Defendants have a right to an attorney in all criminal proceedings

  1. Should all defendants have a right to an attorney in all criminal proceedings? Include municipal courts in your discussion. For example, do you think a defendant in a class C criminal jury or bench trial should be appointed an attorney if they cannot afford one? If you think the system is fine as is, explain why.
  2. Should defendants have a say in who is chosen as their attorney and why? If not, should there be certain standards for who is appointed to represent a defendant? Explain you answer.
  3. Take it one step further. A few states are pushing for the appointment of attorneys for indigent person(s) in civil cases where the case involves "basic human needs". Should Texas pass a law that in civil cases that involve "basic human needs", an attorney should be appointed for indigent person(s)? If so, this would have to go through the legislative process. Do you think it would pass the legislature in Texas? Would it get public support?