Florida — Public Defenders — Galsworthy Criminal Justice Reform Program

Public Defenders

Defendants on the lower end of the socio-economic scale find themselves at the mercy of public defenders who are swamped with cases, understaffed, and underfunded. Research shows that even before mass incarceration accelerated in the 1980s, overburdened systems of indigent defense struggled to meet the 6th Amendment constitutional mandate. Public defenders usually have the deck stacked against them due to discovery laws favoring prosecutors and lack of sufficient resources.

Despite Common Belief, Floridians Can't Always Get a Free Public Defender

“Prosecutors said they were dropping Rodriguez's felony charge and one of his misdemeanors. They were no longer seeking to jail him for the other misdemeanor count. And thanks to a quirk in Florida law, Judge Hague said Rodriguez was no longer entitled to a public defender. According to a little-known state statute, criminal defendants who aren't facing jail time have no right to a state-appointed lawyer in court. With no attorney to fight on his behalf, Rodriguez was convicted and forced to pay $358 in court fees. The criminal conviction went on his permanent record.“

Miami New Times

October 28, 2019

Public DefendersPhillip ReevesOctober 28, 2019Miami New Times, FloridaComment

Legendary Tampa criminal defense attorney Barry Cohen dies at 79

“The accused and the wronged beat a path to Barry Cohen’s door. The tenacious, canny criminal defense attorney took on pharmaceutical giants and law enforcement agencies. When judges and attorneys needed representation, they often reached out to him. And when the odds seemed stacked against his clients, he would fight their case outside the courtroom, too.“

Tampa Bay Times

September 22, 2018

Public DefendersPhillip ReevesSeptember 27, 2018Tampa Bay Times, FloridaComment

Public Defenders

Galsworthy CJR Program

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