News & Commentary about Public Defense Reform
Through litigation and advocacy, the ACLU’s Criminal Law Reform Project works to ensure that public defense systems throughout the country reliably live up to the promise of the Sixth Amendment so that all criminal defendants — regardless of their wealth or poverty — receive fair treatment in the criminal legal system. Failing public defense systems violate the constitutional rights of the accused, lead to unjust outcomes, and contribute to our overburdened, inhumane, and wasteful jail and prison systems.
Oct 7, 2011
Breaking the Addiction to Incarceration: Weekly Highlights
Oct 5, 2011
Death By Missed Deadline
Jun 13, 2011
New Fast Track Death Appeal Rules Still Fall Far Short of Goal of Providing Quality Counsel
May 31, 2011
Michigan’s Crumbling Public Defense System Continues to Lock Up Innocent People
Jul 2, 2010
House Democrats Vote to Strengthen Legal Services for the Poor
Jun 15, 2010
Death Row Defendant Gets Reprieve From Horrid Lawyering
May 19, 2010
Jerry Guerinot: Most Dangerous Defense Attorney Ever?
Mar 10, 2010
Good and Bad Lawyers Determine Who Lives and Who Dies
Mar 9, 2010
Executing on a Technicality
Oct 27, 2009
Equal Access to Justice for the Poor