The Office of the Federal Public Defender for the District of District of Columbia was created in 1991 by the Criminal Justice Act of 1964 (18 U.S.C., sec. 3006A). In accordance with that law, a federal district court may establish a defender organization if at least two hundred persons in the district annually require the appointment of counsel.

The Office of the Federal Public Defender for the District of District of Columbia represents indigent defendants before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Representation includes counsel and investigative, expert and other services necessary for an adequate defense.

The Office includes the Federal Public Defender, the Chief Assistant Federal Public Defender, and staff attorneys known as Assistant Federal Public Defenders. They handle caseloads composed of federal misdemeanors, felonies, parole and probation violations,  grand jury representations, direct appeals to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, and petitions for a writ of certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Federal Public Defender for the District of Columbia is appointed to a four-year term by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, after consideration of recommendations made by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The Federal Public Defender appoints as many attorneys as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia approves and other personnel as approved by the Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.

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