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And Justice For Some
Forty-one years ago, in its landmark decision in Gideon v. Wainwright, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution assures prompt access to a qualified attorney for anyone who is accused of a crime—even if he or she can't afford one. The ruling affirmed under the Sixth and 14th Amendments the constitutional right to counsel, guaranteeing that every American should stand equal before the courts.
Today, however, this constitutional right is routinely disregarded. Public defense systems in many parts of the country have not made it a priority to provide competent and effective legal representation or lack the resources, standards, and independence necessary to do so.
OSI's activities in expanding access to effective and comprehensive legal representation are coordinated through the U.S. Justice Fund's Gideon Project.
