Why there should always be publicly funded defenders
May 2, 2008 by bipolarlawyercook
An article in the Boston Globe today about the exoneration of a mentally ill, homeless man wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for a sex crime he did not commit. This is why there should always be publicly-funded defenders– because it’s never too late to admit you’ve made a mistake when it comes to civil liberties, much less personal dignity.
That article made me sad. I am certainly glad that he was exonerated but so late. 17 years in jail and all he gets is exonerated? Does he have any recourse to sue?
what a sad story..I very much fear he is only one example of many others that we will never know about…
My god, that’s just heartbreaking. And I absolutely agree with you that it’s never too late, but oh…there just aren’t words.
The sad thing is that he was convicted in the first place.
Where his only “crime” was being homeless.
Having been the equivalent of a public defender within our legal system, it was the most difficult but most stimulating job I’ve ever had. There are some excellent and dedicated public defenders and their contributions are often overlooked.