Public Defenders perform a critical constitutional function: protecting people’s liberty. Public Defenders are the last line of defense against government overreach, fighting to ensure that no one is imprisoned before the government proves its case. Without zealous counsel, our legal system crumbles, as the rights of the accused go unprotected. That is why the constitution guarantees that everyone accused of a crime receives zealous counsel if they cannot afford one. Unfortunately, in some parts of this state, the right to effective assistance of counsel remains elusive due to inadequate state funding. 
 
This March 18th marks the 62nd anniversary of the United States Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Gideon v. Wainwright, which guaranteed the right to counsel. The government tried and convicted Clarence Earl Gideon for a minor crime and a judge sentenced him to the maximum penalty. Through this entire process, he had no lawyer, because he could not afford one. In Gideon, the Court unanimously ruled that his right to due process under the Sixth Amendment had been violated and, critically, held that states must provide an attorney to those who cannot afford one in most criminal cases.
 
This ground-breaking ruling led to a nationwide effort to recruit and train legal defense attorneys to vigorously protect the constitutional rights of those that could not afford an attorney. Over time, many places opened public defender offices, where attorneys are exclusively committed to fighting on behalf of those people accused of crimes and who lack the means to hire a lawyer to help. Today, public defenders are a pillar of our legal system, fighting for and providing critical legal services to people typically in their most desperate moments.
 
Pennsylvania’s Public Defenders work tirelessly to serve their clients and communities, yet they do so under immense strain as they face overwhelming caseloads, limited resources, and inadequate compensation. Despite the fact that public defense is a state-mandated responsibility, Pennsylvania places the primary financial burden of indigent defense on its counties. Until recently, we were one of only two states that provided no state funding for indigent defense, despite passing the Public Defender Act in 1968.
 
While the recent 7.5-million-dollar appropriation is a significant step in the right direction, Pennsylvania still ranks 45th in the country in total indigent defense funding. Our Commonwealth deserves better. We must have additional funding to ensure that public defenders can effectively represent their clients and uphold our constitutional framework.
 
Please join us in recognizing the efforts of those PDs by commemorating March 18, 2025, as “Public Defender Day” in Pennsylvania. A draft of our proposed resolution is attached.