PA HR143

Designates March 18, 2025, as "Public Defender Day" in Pennsylvania, commemorating the 62nd anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's Gideon v. Wainwright decision

Honors the landmark 1963 ruling that established the Sixth Amendment right to legal counsel as fundamental, requiring courts to provide attorneys for those who cannot afford one

Acknowledges Clara Shortridge Foltz, who first presented her vision for public defense in 1893, as a foundational figure in the public defender movement

Recognizes public defenders as indispensable to the adversarial legal system and calls for equal resources between defense and prosecution

Honors the dedication of public defenders across Pennsylvania who continue serving clients despite ongoing challenges