Mission Statement

The Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Northern & Southern Districts of Iowa was created in 1993 by the Criminal Justice Act of 1964 (18 ​U.S.C. § 3006A). The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to the assistance of counsel for the accused in criminal ​cases. The Federal Public Defender's Office represents only persons charged in federal court who cannot afford to hire counsel. The Federal ​Public Defender is appointed to a four-year term by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. The Federal Public Defender appoints as ​many Assistant Federal Defenders and other personnel as the U.S. Court of Appeals and Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts approve.

Office History

The Federal Public Defender Office for the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa began its operations on December 27, 1993. The Federal ​Public Defender’s Offices in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids opened in 1994. Staffed offices in Sioux City and Davenport followed in 1998. Since ​2012, the Federal Public Defender’s Office has stationed an Assistant Federal Defender in the Council Bluffs area to represent clients charged ​in cases adjudicated in the Council Bluffs courthouse.

The Federal Public Defender’s Office’s staff includes 16 attorneys (the Federal Defender, 14 Assistant Federal Defenders, and one Research ​and Writing Specialist), as well as investigators, paralegals, and administrative employees. The office’s lawyers represent clients charged with ​a wide variety of crimes in federal court. The most common charges involve drugs, firearms, fraud, or child pornography.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit appoints the Federal Defender, who serves a four-year term. The Eighth Circuit may reappoint ​the Federal Defender to successive four-year terms if it deems appropriate. The Federal Defender leads the office and maintains a caseload ​of his/her own.

Paul A. Zoss was the state’s first Federal Defender, serving from the beginning of the agency’s operations until 1997, when he was appointed ​as a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Northern District of Iowa. Paul Papak succeeded Mr. Zoss as Federal Defender, serving from 1997 until 1998. ​Mr. Papak also later became a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the District of Oregon.

Nicholas (Nick) T. Drees was the longest serving Federal Defender in the agency’s history, serving from 1999 until his untimely death in 2011. ​Mr. Drees is one of the great attorneys and public servants in Iowa’s history. His legacy in indigent defense is unsurpassed, and he will always ​be remembered with great fondness.

James (Jim) Whalen succeeded Mr. Drees and served as Federal Defender until his retirement in 2020. Including his time as an Assistant ​Federal Defender, Mr. Whalen served the office for a remarkable 26 years.

Brad Hansen succeeded Mr. Whalen as Federal Defender and is the current Federal Defender. The Eighth Circuit recently reappointed Mr. ​Hansen to a second four-year term, which will expire in January 2029.