cover of episode We The People: Legal Representation

We The People: Legal Representation

2024/8/8
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Clara Foltz, a pioneering lawyer, first proposed the idea of public defenders in 1893, arguing for government-funded defense lawyers to ensure fair trials for all. Her idea, initially met with resistance, aimed to address the appalling state of legal representation for the poor, where inexperienced or exploitative lawyers were common.
  • Clara Foltz proposed the public defender idea in 1893.
  • She advocated for government-funded defense lawyers.
  • The goal was to ensure fair trials for those who couldn't afford legal representation.

Shownotes Transcript

The Sixth Amendment. Most of us take it for granted that if we're ever in court and we can't afford a lawyer, the court will provide one for us. And in fact, the right to an attorney is written into the Constitution's sixth amendment. But for most of U.S. history, it was more of a nice-to-have — something you got if you could, but that many people went without. Today, though, public defenders represent up to 80% of people charged with crimes. So what changed? Today on Throughline's We the People: How public defenders became the backbone of our criminal legal system, and what might need to change for them to truly serve everyone. (Originally ran as The Right to an Attorney)).Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices)NPR Privacy Policy)