Pleading the Sixth
We post commentary on the latest news in the nation about the right to counsel. We also share updates about our work, like when a report from an evaluation is published or groundbreaking legislation passes. Sign up to get alerted on the latest post.
New 6AC report finds South Dakota counties are at a breaking point and need state oversight
Pleading the Sixth: 6AC and the South Dakota Unified Judicial System release a report after a statewide evaluation of adult trial-level public defense services. The report finds that South Dakota’s locally funded, decentralized county-based public defense system results in the denial of counsel and erodes the adversarial system of justice.
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September 9, 2024
Federal district court in Arkansas rules defendants have a right to an attorney at bail hearings
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June 19, 2024
Colorado bans flat fees and low hourly rates in certain cases
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April 10, 2024
Strike 6: New lawsuit hits in San Mateo County, California
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March 26, 2024
New Guam report finds judicial influence over indigent defense
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March 22, 2024
Louisiana Governor institutionalizes political interference
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March 19, 2024
South Dakota leaves nation’s “no state funding” list in groundbreaking legislation
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March 5, 2024
Strike 5: The State of California calls a strike on San Benito County
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December 14, 2023
Pennsylvania is off the “no state funding” list. Is South Dakota next?
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December 11, 2023
Virginia legislative report finds low fee caps cause problems
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August 8, 2023
Revised ABA Ten Principles: A new public defense roadmap for policymakers
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July 14, 2023
Oregon passes sweeping indigent defense reforms
Support Our Work
Criminal justice issues that disproportionately harm poor people, such as wrongful convictions and over-incarceration, cannot be fixed if indigent defendants are given attorneys who do not have the time, resources, or qualifications, to be a constitutional check on government. Yet, investment in improving indigent defense services remains largely neglected. The Sixth Amendment Center is the only nonprofit organization in the country that exclusively examines, uncovers, and helps fix the root of the indigent defense crisis in which inequality is perpetuated because poor defendants do not get a fair fight.
The Sixth Amendment Center is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization under EIN: 45-3477185.
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