On March 18, 1963, in Gideon v. Wainwright, the U.S. Supreme Court laid the foundation for our nation’s public defense system. In their ruling the Court made clear that providing counsel to those facing criminal charges was a “fundamental right, essential to a fair trial.” Today we continue to fight to make the constitutional promises of counsel and of a fair trial realities.

Few names in public defense are as iconic as that of Clarence Earl Gideon. In 1961, with an 8th grade education and a history of being in and out of jail, Gideon stood trial for burglary of a Florida pool hall. When the court called the case and asked if he was ready for trial Gideon replied "I am not ready, your Honor." When the judge asked why, he explained "I have no counsel." 

Outmanned and outgunned Jose J. Monsivais

Norman Reimer receives NACDL’s 2002 Champion of Indigent Defense Award Susan J. Walsh

A Look Ahead at 2007

The Press Is Finally Getting It Steven D. Benjamin

The Georgia Justice Project turns lives around through aggressive defense, holistic relationships Douglas Ammar

Big shoes; News briefs

The Georgia Indigent Defense Act of 2003 Marion Chartoff

Federal indigent defense on appeal: The First Circuit’s experience Peter B. Krupp, David Beneman

Faulty forensic evidence Michele Nethercott

New York court finds failure to raise rates of assigned counsel violates state constitution Susan J. Walsh

Brief of Amici Curiae National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and Idaho Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in Support of Plaintiffs-Appellants

Indigent Defense

Juval Scott is embarking on a new role as the executive director of The Bronx Defenders. She believes public defenders are the proverbial line in the sand between the ferocious government and the vulnerable individual.