The U.S. Department of Justice hosted a two day symposium on indigent defense on Thursday and Friday in Washington, DC.
The BLT reports, "Justice Dept. Pledges Support to Indigent Defense Reform." It was posted by Mike Scarcella on Friday afternoon.
Top leaders at the U.S. Justice Department have rotated in and out of the Mayflower Hotel in Northwest Washington over the past few days, each declaring the department's commitment to indigent defense reform.
This afternoon it was Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer's turn to deliver remarks in front of several hundred people, many of them public defenders from around the country.
“A strong criminal defense bar is absolutely crucial to the efficacy of any adversarial judicial system,” said Breuer, head of the Criminal Division.
Breuer, a former Covington & Burling partner who focused on white collar criminal defense and served as vice chairman of the pro bono practice, spoke generally about the Justice Department’s examination of the sentencing disparities in crack and powder cocaine cases. And he said the department is looking closely at ways to reduce recidivism.
Breuer in his remarks spent several minutes on a history lesson tied to the public defense bar--recounting the Boston Massacre trials and a defense lawyer named John Adams (who later became the country's second president). Adams, Breuer said, agreed to represent soldiers at trial on murder charges despite the unpopularity of the defendants at the time. Representing the men, Breuer said, may have been "career suicide."
On Thursday, Attorney General Eric Holder addressed the symposium. His speech, "Looking Back, Looking Forward, 2000-2010," is at the DoJ website.
For well over two centuries now, we, as a people, have been striving to build a more perfect union – an America that lives up to the vision of our Founders. A country where the words of our Constitution can, finally, reach the full measure of their intent.
It is no less than this ongoing work – the fulfillment of our Constitution – that brings us together today. I’m here to discuss a responsibility that we, as stewards of our nation’s criminal justice system, all share – a responsibility to ensure the fairness and integrity of that system.
I would argue that our criminal justice system is one of the most distinctive aspects of our national character. And I also would argue that it is one of the most praiseworthy. That said, we must face facts. And the facts prove that we have a serious problem on our hands.
Nearly half a century has passed since the Supreme Court’s decision in Gideon v. Wainwright. The Court followed with other decisions recognizing the right to counsel in juvenile and misdemeanor cases. Today, despite the decades that have gone by, these cases have yet to be fully translated into reality.
And:
In particular, I think our common work must have three areas of focus. I’ve touched on each of these goals over the last year. But all of them are worth mentioning here again today.
First, we must commit to an ongoing dialogue about these issues. We need partners at the federal, state, and local levels, both within and outside of government, to be involved. By sharing information and working together, I believe we can build on the good work that has gone into developing model standards for our public defense systems.
Second, we must raise awareness about what we’re up against. As Americans understand how some of their fellow citizens experience the criminal justice system, they will be shocked and angered – feelings I hope would compel them to become advocates for change and allies in our work.
Third, we must expand the role of the public defender. We must encourage defenders to seek solutions beyond our courtrooms and ensure that they’re involved in shaping policies that will empower the communities they serve. I’m committed to making sure that public defenders are at the table when we meet with other stakeholders in the criminal justice system. I have charged the Department’s leadership with calling on our components to include members of the public defense system in a range of meetings. We will also involve defenders in conferences, application review panels, and other venues where a public defense perspective can be valuable. And it should not go without saying – every state should have a public defender system. Every state.
Related articles are in the indigent defense category index. Earlier coverage of Attorney General includes:
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