Everyone accused of a crime is guaranteed the right to counsel. If they cannot afford to hire private counsel, they are assigned a public defender who cannot refuse representation.

• Does hiring a private attorney provide an unfair advantage in the judicial process? Why or why not? Provide some specific examples.
• If everyone accused of a crime could only be represented by public defenders, would this reduce disparity in trial representation and outcome? Explain your answer.
• What changes to representation could create a more balanced judicial process?