While competent defense counsel is essential to the fair administration of criminal justice, public defenders in the United States often lack the time and resources to provide the quality representation their clients deserve. But a new model promises to revolutionize the system.
STANFORD – The public-defender system in the United States is plagued by underfunding, overwhelming caseloads, and entrenched inequalities. Public defenders, who manage hundreds of cases, often lack the time and resources needed to provide the high-quality representation their clients deserve. This results in a justice system where the quality of one’s legal defense depends on one’s financial means, undermining the fundamental principle of equal justice for all.
