PENNSYLVANIA, March 20 - WHEREAS, Public defenders represent more than one-half of

individuals charged with crimes in this Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Public defenders fight to protect our constitutional

rights, including the presumption of innocence, the right to be

free from unreasonable government searches and seizures and the

right to be tried in front of a jury of our peers, amongst

others; and

WHEREAS, Without zealous advocates, our society cannot ensure

that these constitutional rights are protected in criminal

proceedings and that innocent people do not lose their

freedom; and

WHEREAS, In order to best serve this purpose, public

defenders must be recognized as indispensable to our adversarial

system and be given the same resources as the prosecution; and

WHEREAS, Pennsylvania ranks 45th in indigent defense funding,

with per capita spending far below the national average; and

WHEREAS, The lack of resources strains even the best

attorneys and negatively impacts the quality of a legal defense,

jeopardizing the integrity of the criminal legal system; and

WHEREAS, Additional State funding is necessary to alleviate

the strain placed on public defenders; and

WHEREAS, Despite ongoing challenges, public defenders

continue to fight valiantly for their clients' dignity,

humanity and right to a quality defense; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize March 18,

2026, as "Gideon's Day" in Pennsylvania to honor the hard and

selfless work of public defenders across this Commonwealth.

20260SR0252PN1519 - 2 -

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