Gideon v. Wainwright
This ceremony commemorated the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Landmark decision in Gideon v. Wainwright, which ensured that all indigent defendants have access to counsel. The event featured a discussion with Attorney General Eric Holder, former Vice President Walter Mondale, and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan. They remarked on the case’s history and lasting impact. Afterwards, NPR Legal Affairs Correspondent Nina Totenberg moderated a panel of indigent defense experts: former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb, New York State Director of the Office of Indigent Legal Services William Leahy, and Equal Justice Initiative Executive Director Bryan Stevenson.
Press Release: Justice Department Announces Nearly $2 Million in Grants to Strengthen Legal Services for the Poor