Case: Virginia State Investigation of Indigent Defense System

No Court

Filed Date: 2004

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

In 2006, Virginia narrowly avoided a lawsuit that was prepared by Covington & Burling lawyers, along with support from the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers ("NACDL"), the Virginia Indigent Defense Coalition, and the American Bar Association ("ABA"), when it agreed to undertake widespread reform in its indigent defense system. The Spangenberg Group, on behalf of the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defendants, prepared this 2004 report which …

In 2006, Virginia narrowly avoided a lawsuit that was prepared by Covington & Burling lawyers, along with support from the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers ("NACDL"), the Virginia Indigent Defense Coalition, and the American Bar Association ("ABA"), when it agreed to undertake widespread reform in its indigent defense system. The Spangenberg Group, on behalf of the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defendants, prepared this 2004 report which garnered significant national and local media attention. It detailed severe systemic problems with Virginia's indigent defense system and recommended a number of reforms. This report was influential in helping educate the public about the serious flaws in the then-existing indigent defense system, as well as informing the legislative debate around the type of reform that was most appropriate. See Malia Brink, Indigent Defense Reform in Virginia: A Long Road Well-Traveled, CHAMPION, May 2007. This article is available online: www.nacdl.org/champion.aspx?id=4751.

Summary Authors

Timothy Shoffner (7/12/2012)

People


Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Beeman, Marea L. (Massachusetts)

de Silva-de Alwis, Rangita (Massachusetts)

Newhouse, David J. (Massachusetts)

Riggs, Jennifer W. (Massachusetts)

Saubermann, Jennifer M. (Massachusetts)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

A Comprehensive Review of Indigent Defense in Virginia

Jan. 1, 2004

Jan. 1, 2004

Findings Letter/Report

Resources

Docket

Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 1:48 p.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Virginia

Case Type(s):

Indigent Defense

Key Dates

Filing Date: 2004

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

No plaintiff because this is not a court case. The Spangenberg Group, on behalf of the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defendants, prepared a report on the sever systemic problems with Virginia's indigent defense system.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Case Details

Special Case Type(s):

Out-of-court

Available Documents:

None of the above

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Nature of Relief:

Unknown

Source of Relief:

Unknown

Issues

Reproductive rights:

Fetus Identity

General:

Access to lawyers or judicial system

Quality of representation