Right to Counsel

Right to Counsel

Introduction:
The right to counsel exists under the Sixth Amendment. The way in which that right applies to indigent defendants has been the subject of extensive litigation. Roots of the modern right to counsel for indigent defendants date back more than a century. Understanding line-drawing is very important. The line-drawing has evolved over time. A key starting point in determining when the right attaches is understanding what constitutes a critical stage. From there, an indigency determination must be made by the court within Sixth Amendment parameters.

Instructions:

Address the Following:

Summarize how the right to counsel has evolved at the state and federal levels through court interpretation of the Sixth Amendment.
Explain the implications of failing to comply with the Sixth Amendment during a critical stage of the case process.
Illustrate how philosophical underpinnings and public policy influenced the U.S. Supreme Court in key Sixth Amendment right-to-counsel decisions.
Special Instructions:

Create a 1 page essay in APA format. Use 2 scholarly sources for references. Be sure to utilize in-text citations.

Solution Preview

The United States constitution provides for this fundamental right to its criminal defendants. Hence, criminal defendants are entitled to lawyers in their criminal justice proceeding, even when their countries’ constitution do not provide for the right to counsel. For instance, if an individual is accused of a crime, 

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