In 1963, the U.S. Supreme Court in Gideon v. Wainwright guaranteed the right to legal counsel for criminal defendants in state and federal proceedings. Yet, 60 years later, Pennsylvania still relies primarily on its counties to fund public defense. In 2023, the Pennsylvania General Assembly, at the recommendation of Gov. Josh Shapiro, took a historic step by appropriating $7.5 million for indigent public defense—the first-ever statewide appropriation. But, there is much more to do.