| Article: | Public defender: Legal system icon faces case overload "Mr. Gideon, I am sorry, but I cannot appoint Counsel to represent you in this case. Under the laws of the State of Florida, the only time the Court can appoint counsel to represent a defendant is when that person is charged with a capital offense. I am sorry, but I will have to deny your request to appoint counsel to defend you in this case." -- Mr. Justice Black of the Florida State Supreme Court, 1963. |