The attorneys say they represent the poor with the same vigor as they would anyone else. But a Star-Telegram review of 10,510 cases from 1999 shows that the system in which they work is stacked against the poor. Poor defendants were more likely to be sentenced to jail or prison time than those who could afford attorneys, the analysis shows. The disparity showed up in nearly every broad crime category studied. It existed regardless of defendants' criminal history but was greatest for defendants with few or no prior convictions.
Defense attorneys offer an ambiguous view of the system.
Immediately after saying the scales are balanced in Tarrant County, they contradict themselves with horror stories about wronged clients. Defense lawyer Francisco Hernandez said the system works pretty well in Tarrant County. Then, he told the story of a Salavadoran who spent seven months in jail after being unjustly accused of rape. To get the charges dropped, the man, who entered the country legally, agreed to be deported. No one understands the system better than Bill Ray.