Gideon's Army

The documentary follows three young public defenders working in the southern states of America. These lawyers defend people who cannot pay for their own defence, people society would rather not see. The conditions are heavy: long hours, low pay and hundreds of cases falling to a single lawyer. The film does not build courtroom tension; it shows the person under the pile of files, how much time a defence can actually find and why even the most committed give it up. Dawn Porter’s ninety six minute American documentary was completed in 2013 and takes its name from the Gideon decision that established the right to counsel for everyone.