Sixty years after Gideon v. Wainright affirmed a right to counsel in certain criminal cases, questions remain about the vitality of that right in practice. At the same time, there is a growing movement for a civil right to counsel. In this session, hosted by the Section on Pro Bono and Access to Justice, panelists will explore the state of the right to counsel in criminal cases, whether and how that right ought to be extended to certain civil contexts, and what role right to counsel plays or ought to play in the broader access to justice movement.
The Section held a virtual business meeting prior to the Annual Meeting.