The case of Gideon v. Wainwright is about the right to a court-appointed attorney. Its importance is only underscored by developments today in the cases of American born detainees Yaser Hamdi and Jose Padilla. Robert C. Boruchowitz, director of The Defender Association and a Soros Justice Senior Fellow of the Open Society Institute, explains the connection .

From our earlier post:

We will be in Washington with the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers for the 40th Anniversary of Gideon commemoration and to do some lobbying with some Republican members of Congress on the Innocence Protection Act on Tuesday and Wednesday. We will be blogging evenings and early mornings from D.C.

If you're in Washington, come to the Gideon Symposium. It is free and open to the public. You can access the brochure here. Details:

March 18, 2003, 9:30 am - 5:00 pm
Georgetown University Law Center
600 New Jersey Avenue, NW
Washington, DC