The quote is intended to address the issue of representation in courts of justice. In the present period, there is laxity from the part of the government to provide pro bono services to citizens who cannot afford the services of a counsel. This means that such citizens go to trial without exactly understanding what is expected of them. This is unlike the past when the government recognized the right for every accused person to be represented by a qualified lawyer to ensure a fair process. This ceased to be the case.
The Supreme Court of America is constantly subjected to political pressure which has a direct impact in defining effective assistance of a counsel. There is lack of support from the government in ensuring citizens are duly represented in a court of law. Implementation of such policies that cater for litigants depends on the government’s political and legal will. However, this is not reflected in the present day America (Keefe, 2004).
Lack of interest in ensuring adequate assistance of counsel for the indigent is impacted by social pressures. Over the years, the public has viewed lawyers as being money-oriented at the expense of providing quality services to their clients. Indigent clients resolve to self-representation as a result of this.
Economic pressure dictates the attitude that the legislative, congressional and general public may develop against ensuring counsel for the indigent (Sarat, 2009). Counsel representation is always expensive for the indigent. Furthermore, there is no assurance that they will win the case. The exorbitant prices quoted by lawyers always discourage people from seeking for their services.
The quote applies to the current legal procedures. Whereas every citizen has a right to fair hearing enshrined in the constitution, such a right is abused by the fact that they are not represented by an attorney (Morone, 2002 & Reynolds, 2001). Although it is the role of the government to ensure this is achieved, this has not always been the case. As such, there is a need for all levels of the government to invest in counsel representation.
References
Keefe, W. (2004). Parties, politics, and public policy in America (7th ed.). Washington, D.C.: CQ Press.
Morone, J. (2002). By the people: Debating American government (Brief ed.).
Reynolds, W. 2001). Judicial process in a nutshell (2nd ed.). St. Paul (Minn.): West.
Sarat, A. (2009). The killing state capital punishment in law, politics, and culture. New York: Oxford University Press.
Ulmer, S. (2011). Courts, law, and judicial processes. New York: Free Press ;.
