The Story

The Story was produced at North Carolina Public Radio - WUNC and was heard on over 100 stations.Visit The Story web site to listen to this program and for more details, archives, show highlights and more podcasts. UPDATE 1.13.2020: The Story web site has been decommissioned and is in the process of being archived. It may return at a later date.

With Heavy Caseload, Public Defender Works 24/7

WUNC | By TheStory

Published March 12, 2013 at 11:10 AM EDT

Travis Williams talks with Dick about the heavy caseload he carries in Hall Country, Ga. The promise of a free attorney was established 50 years ago in the Supreme Court’s ruling of Gideon v. Wainwright. Williams says he represents people he might normally avoid; an open racist, for example. But he says people value their freedom more than those kinds of beliefs. Travis Williams is featured in Gideon's Army, a movie opening the Full Frame Festival on April 4.

Then, Dick speaks with Al Flora, the chief public defender in Luzerne Country, Pa. He started declining new cases for his office because he feels his staff of lawyers have such a heavy workload they might have to take shortcuts.

To hear the audio for these interviews, visit The Story's website. Also in this show: A young man in a youth residential facility calls home to speak with his family.