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The Sixth Amendment provides that "In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right ... to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense." A defendant's need for a lawyer is nowhere better stated than in the moving words of Mr. Justice Sutherland in Powell v. Alabama, 287 U.S.68, "The right to be heard would be, in many cases, of little avail if it did not comprehend the right to be heard by counsel. Even the intelligent and educated layman has small and sometimes no skill in the science of law. If charged with crime, he is incapable, generally, of determining for himself whether the indictment is good or bad. He is unfamiliar with the rules of evidence. Left without the aid of counsel he may be put on trial without a proper charge, and convicted upon incompetent evidence, or evidence irrelevant to the issue or otherwise inadmissible. He lacks both the skill and knowledge adequately to prepare his defense, even though he have a perfect one. He requires the guiding hand of counsel at every step in the proceedings against him. Without it, though he be not guilty, he faces the danger of conviction because he does not know how to establish his innocence." As part of it’s obligation to comply with such constitutional mandates Congress enacted the Criminal Justice Act, 18 U.S.C. 3006A..
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CJA Attorneys
If charged with crime, he is incapable, generally, of determining for himself whether the indictment is good or bad. He is unfamiliar with the rules of evidence. Left without the aid of counsel he may be put on trial without a proper charge, and convicted upon incompetent evidence, or evidence irrelevant to the issue or otherwise inadmissible. He lacks both the skill and knowledge adequately to prepare his defense, even though he have a perfect one.
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Without it, though he be not guilty, he faces the danger of conviction because he does not know how to establish his innocence." As part of it’s obligation to comply with such constitutional mandates Congress enacted the Criminal Justice Act, 18 U.S.C. 3006A..