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.
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May 18, 2017
Will the Virgin Islands finally end the practice of conscripting non-qualified lawyers to represent the indigent accused?
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May 8, 2017
New York caseload standards announced and their importance to statewide reform explained
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May 5, 2017
Flaws in West Virginia indigent defense system result in non-lawyer representing indigent defendants
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April 30, 2017
The Idaho Supreme Court says Strickland is “inapplicable” to remedying systemic indigent defense deficiencies; reinstates ACLU lawsuit
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April 30, 2017
Systemic right to counsel failures cannot be resolved in case-by-case reviews
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April 10, 2017
Tennessee Supreme Court Task Force recommends complete overhaul of right to counsel services
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April 10, 2017
DOJ recommendations for Shelby County, TN place financial burden on the county; Task Force would place responsibility on the state
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April 3, 2017
New ACLU lawsuit: Washington State fails to ensure effective delinquency representation
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March 8, 2017
Nevada Chief Justice: “We must do better at providing representation to rural defendants.”
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December 12, 2016
Should non-lawyer judges be sending people to jail? SCOTUS asked to review
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October 24, 2016
Indiana stands as a cautionary tale for other states with similar indigent defense system models
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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