Pennsylvania will soon provide funding for indigent criminal defense. The legislature approved $7.5 million for criminal defense for those who cannot afford an attorney. The historic legislation was signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro. What is so historical about funding a constitutional right that was confirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1963?

For Pennsylvania, it is an opportunity to move on from the dubious distinction of being one of only two states, South Dakota is the other, providing zero state funding for indigent defense. For Pennsylvania counties the burden of providing counsel to indigent defendants was previously paid for without state assistance.