PA SR54

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

Pennsylvania ranks 45th nationally in indigent defense funding, with per capita spending far below the national average

Calls for additional state funding to address resource strain on public defenders and uphold Sixth Amendment protections

Honors the work of public defenders who provide legal representation to individuals who cannot afford private attorneys