PRINTER'S NO. 443
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.54
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY HUGHES, TARTAGLIONE, STREET, PENNYCUICK,
L. WILLIAMS, SAVAL, COSTA, HAYWOOD, VOGEL AND CAPPELLETTI,
MARCH 20, 2025
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, MARCH 20, 2025
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing March 18, 2025, as "Public Defender Day" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, March 18, 2025, marks the 62nd anniversary of the
United States Supreme Court decision in Gideon v. Wainwright ,
372 U.S. 335, 83 S.Ct. 792 (1963); and
WHEREAS, The Gideon Court unanimously ruled that the Sixth
Amendment to the Constitution of the United States guarantees
the right to legal counsel as a fundamental right essential to a
fair trial, and counsel must be provided to individuals who
cannot afford to hire an attorney themselves; and
WHEREAS, The ruling spurred nationwide efforts to recruit and
train legal defense attorneys for the purpose of providing a
public defense; and
WHEREAS, These efforts were built on Clara Shortridge Foltz's
legacy, who first presented her vision for public defense in
1893; and
WHEREAS, Public defenders fight to protect the liberty of
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WHEREAS, Without zealous advocates, we cannot ensure that
people's rights are protected and that the innocent will not go
to prison; and
WHEREAS, In order to best serve this purpose, public
defenders must be recognized as an indispensable component of
the adversarial system and have access to the same resources as
the prosecution; and
WHEREAS, The lack of resources strains even the best
attorneys and negatively impacts the quality of a legal defense,
jeopardizing the integrity of the criminal legal system; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania ranks 45th in indigent defense funding,
with per capita spending far below the national average; and
WHEREAS, Additional State funding is necessary to alleviate
the strain placed on public defenders and ensure that we uphold
Sixth Amendment protections in this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Despite ongoing challenges, public defenders
continue to show up and give their all to their clients;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize March 18, 2025, as
"Public Defender Day" in Pennsylvania and honor the hard and
selfless work of public defenders across this Commonwealth.
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