It's a basic right: "equal justice under law" means that every American should stand equal before the courts. 2003 marks the 40th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court case, Gideon v. Wainwright, that ruled the Constitution guarantees all Americans access to legal representation when facing prison time for criminal charges. If someone cannot afford to hire an attorney, the court is required to appoint one for him or her.

This guarantee legitimizes our legal system - if we can all count on getting qualified counsel, we can all trust our system of justice.

The "No Exceptions" campaign aims to remind each state of its responsibility to promptly provide qualified counsel to anyone who is accused of a crime and can't afford an attorney. There are no exceptions to this rule.