DE SCR29

Recognizes March 18, 2025, as "National Public Defense Day" in Delaware, commemorating the anniversary of the 1963 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Gideon v. Wainwright

Honors the landmark ruling that established the constitutional right to court-appointed counsel for defendants who cannot afford an attorney in state criminal prosecutions

Acknowledges Delaware's Office of Defense Services, which provides legal representation to indigent adults facing potential jail time and all juveniles in criminal and delinquency matters

Recognizes that the Office of Defense Services handled more than 20,000 criminal matters in the past year and represents approximately 85% of justice-involved individuals in Delaware

Commends public defenders as essential to protecting constitutional rights and guarding against injustice in the criminal justice system