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SENATE RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, March 18, 2025, marks the 62nd anniversary of the |
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landmark Supreme Court ruling in Gideon v. Wainwright, which |
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found that under the United States Constitution, state courts |
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must provide attorneys to indigent defendants in all felony |
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cases; and |
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WHEREAS, In Gideon v. Wainwright, the United States |
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Supreme Court unanimously reaffirmed the right of defendants to a |
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fair trial and recognized that our adversarial system of criminal |
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justice depends upon a fair contest between the prosecution and |
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the defense, and this contest is an effective means of arriving |
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at just results only when both the prosecution and the defense |
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are adequately prepared and equipped to present their case |
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effectively under the law; and |
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WHEREAS, Because the assistance of counsel is essential to |
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effectuate a meaningful defense when faced with prosecution by |
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the state, the 77th Legislature passed the Fair Defense Act of |
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2001 to better ensure that the constitutional rights of all |
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Texans would be more reliably safeguarded; and |
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WHEREAS, That Act established the Task Force on Indigent |
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Defense, which was elevated to permanent agency status as the |
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Texas Indigent Defense Commission, to ensure the rights |
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guaranteed in Gideon v. Wainwright, with the task force and the |
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commission enabling many more people to receive public defense |
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services and earlier access to counsel, while also improving the |
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quality of legal assistance provided; and |
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WHEREAS, The commission provides technical support to |
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counties to develop and maintain quality, cost-effective public |
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defense systems and offers financial assistance to meet the new |
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requirements and to foster innovation in the way public defense |
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services are provided; state grant funds administered by the |
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commission have led to the creation of many new public defender |
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offices and managed assigned counsel programs to provide public |
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defense services in more than 82 counties; and |
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WHEREAS, The commission is actively working to address the |
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rural attorney shortage crisis by establishing more rural |
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regional public defender offices; by affirming essential |
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principles of fairness and justice, the commission plays a |
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crucial role in guaranteeing access to counsel for all; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th |
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Legislature, hereby commemorate the 62nd anniversary of Gideon |
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v. Wainwright and commend the Texas Indigent Defense Fund on its |
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work to improve the administration of justice in this state. |