3 ms·
Sixth Amendment provides right to counsel for criminal prosecutions. It's the rare positive right - if you do not have lawyer, or cannot afford one, the state w
by freeone3000 6y ago
Sixth Amendment provides right to counsel for criminal prosecutions. It's the rare positive right - if you do not have lawyer, or cannot afford one, the state will provide one. (Generally an overworked, underpaid one...)
- nickff 6y agoNot for all criminal prosecutions it seems; only felonies: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_counsel#United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_counsel#United_States
- refurb 6y agoRandom anecdote - I sat as a juror on a felony trial where the defendant was represented by a public defender. Before it started I pictured a bumbling public defender with bags under their eyes from lack of sleep. I was surprised when the public defender ran circles around the prosecutor. It was actually the prosecutor who I had some sympathy for. She seemed overworked and unprepared. Albeit it was a big case for the city, so I assume the public defenders office decided it was a case worth winning, but damn, that changed my opinion of public defenders.
- Zhenya 6y agoMaybe it was a lawyer doing their required pro bono hours (I think large firms require X hours of this kind of public work).
- refurb 6y agoThat does happen, but it wasn't in this case. I looked the defense attorney up and he had been with the public defenders office for a few years. Not claiming all public defenders are that good. Just that I was surprised.