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originally posted by: xuenchen
The PD system is another big government failure.
Failure for the victims, successful for others.
If 'learned' people such as judges and lawyers can argue the law back and forward ... well, it is just pathetic! What chance do We The People have?
The major flaw in the system is that it is a revenue stream. A justice system must never earn money, it is a recipe for corruption. Fines levied on citizens should go into a pool and be returned to the people at say tax time.
originally posted by: Aazadan
In 43 or 44 states if you can't afford a lawyer and are given a PD the state will still bill you, and if you lose the case (such as if you plead guilty) they'll bill you for the prosecution as well. And if you can't pay these fines, the court gives you even more fines and arrests you on contempt of court.
In Michigan, the report says, the National Legal Aid and Defender Association found the "threat" of having to pay the full cost of assigned counsel caused misdemeanor defendants to waive their right to attorneys 95% of the time.