About Us

History

The Evolution of Indigent Defense

The right to counsel is a cornerstone of our justice system, but it wasn't always guaranteed. Over time, courts, lawmakers, and communities have shaped what indigent defense looks like today.

Where it Started: Our Right to Counsel

While the Sixth Amendment guaranteed the right to counsel in 1791, it did not initially ensure that counsel would be provided to those who could not afford one.

Over time, landmark Supreme Court decisions clarified and expanded this right—establishing that access to an attorney is essential to a fair justice system, regardless of a person’s financial means.

Where It Started
Where It Started mobile

Texas Supporting Quality Indigent Defense

While the right to counsel was established at the national level, how that right is delivered is determined locally. In Texas, public defense is still evolving.

Texas Supporting Quality Indigent Defense
Texas Supporting Quality Indigent Defense mobile