THANK YOU, JUDGE. I MENTIONED IN MY OPENING REMARKS THE COURT HAS PLAYED A VITAL ROLE CONSTRAINED WITHIN ITS PROPER CONSTITUTIONAL BOUNDARIES IN THE NATIONAL PROCESS OF MAKING AMERICA IN REAL LIFE WHAT AMERICA IS IN TEXT. REFLECTINGION ON YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A DEFENDER, A VITAL ROLE IF OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SIXTH AMENDMENT AND THE ROLE THE COURT PLAYED IN ENSURING THE SIXTH AMENDMENT IS REAL IN PRACTICE, IN THE GIDEON V. WAINWRIGHT DECISION. CAN YOU HELP THOSE TUNED IN RIGHT NOW TO REFLECT UPON THAT POSITION, WHAT IT MEANS AND WHAT IT SAYS IN THE ROLE OF THE COURT? JUDGE JACKSON: PRIOR TO GIDEON VERSUS WAINWRIGHT, PEOPLE WHO COULD NOT AFFORD LAWYERS WERE NOT ENTITLED TO LAWYERS UNDER OUR SYSTEM SO A PERSON COULD BE ACCUSED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AND WOULD HAVE TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES IN COURT AND MAKE THEIR OWN ARGUMENTS. SOMEONE WHO IS NOT A LAWYER WOULD STILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DEFENDING HIM OR HERSELF IN FRONT OF THE JUDGE IF THE GOVERNMENT BROUGHT CHARGES. EARL GIDEON WAS A CRIMINAL DEFENDANT FROM FLORIDA, MY HOME STATE, WHO HAD A HANDWRITTEN PETITION. HE COMPLAINED IT WASN'T FAIR UNDER OUR CONSTITUTIONAL SCHEME THAT PRODUCTS AND REQUIRES PEOPLE TO BE TRIED, HE SAYS I NEED HELP, I'M NOT A LAWYER, I CAN'T MAKE THESE ARGUMENTS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE PROTECTION OF LIBERTY TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO HAVE COUNSEL. AND THAT HANDWRITTEN PETITION MADE ITS WAY TO THE SUPREME COURT AND THE JUSTICES READ IT AND THEY DETERMINED TO TAKE HIS CASE AND IN THE END DECIDED THAT THE PROTECTIONS OF THE SIXTH AMENDMENT, THE RIGHT TO TRIAL INCLUDES THE RIGHT TO APPOINTED COUNSEL SO THAT EVERYBODY WHO IS ACCUSED OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR NOW HAS THE RIGHT TO AN ATTORNEY AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. I MEAN, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I SEE OR SAW AS A TRIAL JUDGE IS THAT IT WAS CRUCIAL FOR OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM TO HAVE REPRESENTATION FROM BOTH SIDES. IT WAS THE ONLY WAY -- IT IS THE ONLY WAY A JUDGE CAN REALLY MAKE FAIR DETERMINATIONS AND WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT MY CRIMINAL CASES, IN EVERY CASE I'M GETTING AS A JUDGE ARGUMENTS FROM THE PROSECUTION, I'M GETTING ARGUMENTS FROM THE DEFENSE COUNSEL OR ARGUMENTS OR STATEMENTS FROM PROBATION IN THESE CRIMINAL CASES AND THE WORK OF THE JUDGE IS TO LOOK AT THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES AND HEAR THE ARGUMENTS OF THE PARTIES AND APPLY THE LAW AND MAKE A APPROPRIATE DETERMINATION. HAVING LAWYERS AS CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS AIDS IN THAT PROCESS AND BENEFITS US ALL IN YOU'RE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. ...