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Right to an Attorney

The right to an attorney is the protection that lets a person facing criminal charges have a lawyer's help. The Sixth Amendment is its source, and courts have extended it over time. Judges, public defender offices, private lawyers, and state and federal governments all take part.

People usually bring questions about when a lawyer must be provided and who pays. They ask how public defenders differ from private lawyers, what the landmark Gideon decision changed, and what risks come with representing oneself. They also ask about legal help for special groups, such as service members.

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June 7last updated

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All Articles on Right to an Attorney

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Every year, thousands of Americans choose to represent themselves in court - a practice known as "pro se" representation, from the Latin meaning "for…

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Right to Counsel: How Gideon v. Wainwright Changed Criminal Justice

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