The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-12-07
The p public Defender

he Public Defender
An Account of Six Years Ser
vice in Defense of the Poor
in Court
(By Walter. j. Wood, Public De-
fender Of Los Angeles County,
Cal. Ia Review Of Reviews for
March. 1920
AS one steps from the elevator
at the eleventh floor of the Hall of
Records IN Los Angeles he looks at
the door to the right, whereon is
painted the words District At
terney and then on the door
across the hall to the left he reads
the words Public Defender" These
two offices have thus existed in
close proximity for six years, in the
first county IN the United States
! to establish the office Of Public
Defender.
When the office of Public De-
fender was established in Los
Angeles, an January, 1914, it at
tracted much attention throughout
Z the country. The Review Of Re
views, IN its issue of December,
laI stated The whole country
has been interested in the expert
8 raent made by the city of Los
angeles, California, in creating the
Office. OF Public Defender, whose
function II is 20 employ the same
activity the defense Of an accused
person as the District Attorney en-
pleys IN his prosecution.
Since the establishment of the
Public Defenders office in Los
Angeles, similar offices have been
created IN several other cities. Much
interest has been manifested in the
movement By legislators, jur1sts,
and these engaged in social welfare
work Inquiries continue to come
to us from ali parts Of the United
States, indeed from foreign coun-
tries also, asking the results Of the
work Of the office. I feel. there
fore. that our experience in Los
Angeles is a matter OF general in
terest
Relations with the District Attorney
Cordial and Harmonious relations
have been maintained between the
District Attorneys office and our
own. Both offices are trying to
bring about the same result; the
proper administration of justice.
No unfair advantage is taken by one
osiiee Of the other, and trials are
conducted with the smallest possible
degree sof friction. At the same
time both offices diligently and
earnestly represent the interests
of the respective sides Of the issue s
involved Z
Before the Establishment Of cur
officesit was thought by some that
District Attorney and the Public
Defender would necessarily be op-s
posed to. each other and that the
State should not support two offices
the purpose Of one Of which should
S be to oppose the work Of the other.
This; however, is not the true con-
ception of the purpose of the Public
Defender He should cooperate
1 with the District Attorney and the
Judge, rather than oppose either OF
them faiirminded prosecutor
not only does not want innocent
men convicted, but he wants the
guilty TO receive only just seat-
snce.
Before the advent Of the Public
Defender. cases were frequently
presented TO the court in which the
district Attorney wanted to know
the side of the accused but, owing
to conditions, could not properly
learn all the facts. He now knows
that every accused man is receiving
fair treatment and that he need not
IVORY chat possibly full justice is
not being done to both sides. The
District Attorney has often called
the attention of the Public Defend
er to individual cases in which it
appeared that q thorough investi-
CATION might develop that the pris-
oner has a good defense.
The case Of. People vs. John Col
Ens, murder case, furnishes an
example OF cooperation between the
offices Of the District Attorney and
the Public Defender. The only
question before the court was
whether Collins should suffer the
death penalty. The only eye-wit-
ness to the homicide was young
colored girl living in Arkansas. The
defense desired the appearance Of
this witness but was without means
to provide her transportation to
Los Angeles in time for, the trial.
a request was made Of the District
Attorney fer, assistance in this
! matter. and the District Attorney
in a spirit Of fairness secured trans
portat;on for the witness to come
to Los Angeles. She arrived in
time for the trial and mainly upon
her testimony the jury decided in
favor Of the lesser penalty.
An Experienced lawyer for the Ac-
cused.
It was generally understood tha:
the Public Defender should take
the place of the youthful attorneys
who had been receiving assign
ments. from the judge TO represent
impecunious defendants. Clearly,
e. L.