Equal Justice Under Law Act of 2017
- Last Action
- 3/9/2017
Actions
- 2017-03-09Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
- 2017-03-09Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
- 2017-02-07Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2017-02-07Introduced in House
- 2017-02-07Introduced in House
CRS Summary
As of 2017-02-07 (00)
Equal Justice Under Law Act of 2017
This bill states that an indigent individual facing criminal prosecution or juvenile delinquency in a state court is entitled to the effective assistance of counsel, as guaranteed by the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments, at the state's expense.
The bill authorizes a federal class action lawsuit against a state for its systemic failure to guarantee the right to effective assistance of counsel. The assistance of counsel is ineffective when a class of individuals demonstrates that counsel's performance was not reasonable under prevailing professional norms.
Cosponsors (9)
- ELIJAH CUMMINGS (D-MD)
- Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY)
- Joseph Kennedy (D-MA)
- Joyce Beatty (D-OH)
- ALCEE HASTINGS (D-FL)
- ELEANOR NORTON (D-DC)
- JANICE SCHAKOWSKY (D-IL)
- ADAM SMITH (D-WA)
- Tony Cárdenas (D-CA)
Subjects
- Civil actions and liability
- Constitution and constitutional amendments
- Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
- Criminal procedure and sentencing
- Juvenile crime and gang violence
- Lawyers and legal services
- Legal fees and court costs
- State and local courts
Sourced from Congress.gov (public domain).
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.