Injustice For All........

[Der Nister]

So the truth is seeing the light of day. Our constitutional rights violated by a system that is (supposed to be) sworn to and uphold the values of liberty and justice for all. Well my friends, not in wayne county (as I have told many over the years - course, they also thought I was talking out my ass) so now I have proof about what I've said for many years.

Lansing, MI — Michigan is violating the U.S. Constitution by failing to provide competent legal representation to criminal defendants who cannot afford a lawyer, a new study says.

The year-long report released Tuesday, June 17, was requested by the state Legislature and evaluated public defense systems in 10 sample Michigan counties, including Ottawa.

The report found that none are constitutionally adequate.

Ottawa County defense attorney David Zessin said one frustration public defenders face is that they often have little influence on their defendant’s choice on how to plea.

“If people are paying you, they are more likely to listen to your advice,” he said.

Zessin has worked as a public defender for Ottawa County for 27 years, but most of his work now is private.

The report conducted by the National Legal Aid & Defender Association in conjunction with the State Bar of Michigan. The study’s authors said many of today’s problems are the same as they were 75 years ago.

Defense lawyers are being appointed to cases for which they are not qualified. They are underpaid and do not have sufficient time, training, investigators, experts and resources to prepare cases and battle better-funded prosecutors.

The work Zessin does as a public defender is his contribution to the court.

“I don’t do this for a living, but some attorneys do,” he said. “Do some of them take shortcuts? I don’t know, but it would be tempting.

“It’s obvious that we need to allocate more resources to our court system,” he added.

Ottawa County Court Administrator Kevin Bowling released a statement on Tuesday which stated that the county will look at the report as a “blueprint for improvement.”

“The judges of Ottawa County appreciate the research conducted by NLADA and are committed to providing the best possible public defender system with available funds,” the statement said. “To the extent system problems are identified by the NLADA report, they will be examined by our courts and every reasonable effort will be made to implement improvements.”

Forty-three states spend more per capita on indigent defense than Michigan. Michigan also is among a minority of states to make county governments — not state government — pay for public defenders at the trial level.

Counties most in need of indigent defense services often are the ones that least can afford to pay for it, according to the report.

Another key finding: Poor defendants accused of misdemeanors routinely are processed through the justice system without ever speaking to a lawyer.

The 10 counties studied were Alpena, Bay, Chippewa, Grand Traverse, Jackson, Marquette, Oakland, Ottawa, Shiawassee and Wayne.

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/news/x57559...oviding-lawyers

[Der Nister]

I just love the part about

Defense lawyers are being appointed to cases for which they are not qualified.

Makes you feel good about our judicial system don't it?

[Hellion]

1984 is coming true,btw I know several ppl that carry a copy of the Constitution,the cops really hate that.

[Der Nister]

btw I know several ppl that carry a copy of the Constitution,the cops really hate that.

Kudos to them for doing that.

I am reminded of these words from time to time......

Lack of interest has it's price.

Though it's starting to look like most people will find this out the hard way.

[Destroit]

Doesn't surprise me. Not saying it's right, but it's something I've already known for awhile.

[Hellion]

Only the "sheeple" will be the one's who learn the hard way.

[Goth Brooks]

Don't break the law, especially if you cannot afford your own defense attorney.

Then you won't have anything to worry about.