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.
"For the past 27 years as a public defender, and for the past eight years as chief public defender, Bush has been the conscience of the criminal justice system in Shelby County, and a leading voice and force for justice nationwide."
Memphis Commercial Appeal
August 6, 2018
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