6th Amendment of U. S. Constitution ensures criminal defendant’s right to counsel
The Criminal Justice Act provides funding for a person defending themselves in a federal case to safeguard the retention of legal representation.
The Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution ensures a federal criminal defendant’s right to defense counsel, regardless of their ability to pay, according to uscourts.gov.
“By consistently providing exceptional legal representation…federal defenders and CJA panel attorneys play a crucial role in safeguarding individual rights,” said Elizabeth Luck, chief of the Defender Services Office at the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.
Luck discussed the importance of committing to the principle of “equal justice towards law.” She describes this as an integral part of maintaining an ethical justice system, the report said.
Around 90% of criminal defendants receive court appointed assistance from attorneys, investigators, and expert testimonies which is paid under the CJA. Six decades since its enactment, the CJA remains the precedent for affording effective counsel to Americans facing criminal charges, the report said.
U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson spoke to the lasting significance of the CJA in modern-day America. A former CJA attorney in the 1970s, Thompson was present throughout the Act’s earliest years and its development, ensuring that individuals have representation regardless of their financial situation.
In a February event at Edward A. Garmatz U.S. Courthouse in Maryland, Thompson lectured on the history and continued relevance of the CJA. In attendance was an audience of over 100 federal defenders and CJA panel attorneys, said the article.
“As to what the future holds, I can only say to all of you, do not be close-minded to change or to new ideas,” said Thompson.
