TO ENFORCE THE MANDATE OF GIDEON V. WAINWRIGHT

We, providers of indigent defense, petition our Government to enforce the mandate set by our U.S. Supreme Court in 1963 in the Gideon decision. Gideon’s mandate that everyone accused of a crime must be afforded the right to counsel remains unfulfilled. Adequate funding and oversight by the Federal Government is necessary to enforce Gideon’s promise by addressing burgeoning caseloads and inadequate resources. We must do so to provide “the most basic constitutional protection – the right to have truly effective defense counsel.”- U.S. Atty. Gen. Eric Holder 11/17/09
We petition our Federal Government to pass legislation requiring parity in funding and resources with the prosecution, and the assurance of indigent defense systems independent of the legislative, judicial and executive branches.