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According to WCYB news in east Tennessee, one Tennessee public defender’s office is turning away indigent individuals who have been criminally charged. More than 50 years ago, in the case of Gideon v. Wainwright, the United States Supreme Court ruled that every criminal defendant has a constitutional right to a lawyer, whether or not he or she could afford one. The Justices wrote that poor individuals could not be “assured a fair trial unless counsel is provided to them.” Hence the advent of the public defender.

As many states in the country legalize marijuana for recreational purposes and other states make pot legal for medical uses, Tennessee lawmakers continue to refuse to make changes. According to the Daily Helmsman, the majority of Americans favor marijuana reform. 76% of Tennessee citizens favor the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes. Yet, despite widespread acceptance, medical patients face up to a year in jail if they are caught within state lines possessing even medical marijuana.

Many people who face DUI or DWI charges could have avoided arrest or improved their defense options if they understood their rights. Far too often, drivers answer every question that officers ask, admit guilt, or make statements that hurt their chances of structuring an effective defense.

Few experiences can match the stress of a DUI arrest. A conviction can come with life-changing penalties – even if it is your first offense.

If you have been accused of a crime in Memphis, Tennessee, you will be facing investigation including rigorous police interrogation, and ultimately, arrest. The State of Tennessee has immense resources at its disposal to investigate your alleged criminal involvement and build a case against you. Being the subject of a criminal investigation is an extraordinarily a frightening experience.

The failure by a person charged with a criminal offense to hire a skilled and dedicated criminal lawyer is the equivalent of giving up all of his rights under the law. If the client cannot afford the bail set by the Court, it is the criminal lawyer who will defend his right to bail by vociferously arguing for a bond reduction.