Happy Public Defense Day! Also known as Gideon Day. The Supreme Court decision in Gideon v. Wainwright laid the foundation for our nation’s public defense system. The ruling made clear that providing counsel to those facing criminal charges was a “fundamental right, essential to a fair trial” and it affirmed the right to defense counsel for anyone accused of a crime, regardless of wealth. Every day at #PDSDC we practice what Gideon and his lawyers fought for, and we are so honored to be able to bring the constitutional promise of counsel and of a fair trial to the people of the District of Columbia. #PublicDefenderDay #PublicDefenseDay #GideonDay #GideonvWainwright
