Main | About | Tutorial | FAQ | Links | Wiki | Forum | World News | World Map | World Ranking | Nations | Electoral Calendar | Party Organizations | Treaties |
Login | Register |
Game Time: June 5461
Next month in: 02:17:24
Server time: 13:42:35, March 29, 2024 CET
Currently online (0): Record: 63 on 23:13:00, July 26, 2019 CET

We are working on a brand new version of the game! If you want to stay informed, read our blog and register for our mailing list.

Bill: Legal Aid

Details

Submitted by[?]: LibCom Party

Status[?]: passed

Votes: This is an ordinary bill. It requires more yes votes than no votes. This bill will not pass any sooner than the deadline.

Voting deadline: July 2041

Description[?]:

In order to ensure fair trials, all defendants must be entitled to independent legal representation of their own choosing, free of charge.

Proposals

Debate

These messages have been posted to debate on this bill:

Datenot recorded
FromLabour Party
ToDebating the Legal Aid
MessageObviously we need legal aid, this better not present defense lawyers with a blank cheque.

Datenot recorded
FromLibCom Party
ToDebating the Legal Aid
MessageNo, there'll be a set rate. Not too sure how it works in RL - I assume it's set hourly rates for a solicitor to prepare the case and a barrister to do the business in court. (In the UK, that is - that's the only court system I have any experience with.)

Datenot recorded
FromLeviathan Party
ToDebating the Legal Aid
MessageWe may wish to consider an alternative here, where the state would only pay for the trial expenses of low income defendants. Provided we keep the public defenders well staffed and properly compensated, we could ensure adequate representation without allowing rich defendants to saddle the state with the bill when they go on trial for tax evasion or embezzlement.

Datenot recorded
From Protectorate Party
ToDebating the Legal Aid
MessageI imagine rich defendents will go the route of paying their own to maximize their chance of success. (Think OJ trial) I doubt that high profiled attorneys will work at state rates. I am in favor of this bill, it protects the middle class as well which the other option will not.

Datenot recorded
FromLibCom Party
ToDebating the Legal Aid
MessageAlso, means testing can end up costing more than it saves - apparently that was the case in the UK, so they quietly dropped it.

Datenot recorded
FromLabour Party
ToDebating the Legal Aid
MessageThe highest profile criminal derfence advocate in Scotland at the moment (Donald Findlay) is also the recipient of the most legal aid payments, £267,000 in 2002/03.

I do think though that anyone, no matter how much they ean, should be entitled to free representation if they are the subject of criminal proceedings.

It's a complex area though and in real life the legislation would be pretty indepth. Clearly we don't have that luxury so I'm inclined to support the proposal as it is.

Datenot recorded
FromLibCom Party
ToDebating the Legal Aid
MessageI'd like to move this to a vote before I bugger off for the weekend. If anyone objects, please say so now.

Datenot recorded
FromLeviathan Party
ToDebating the Legal Aid
MessageWe object, as we would have liked to explore the option of only giving legal aid to those who truly cannot afford it.

Datenot recorded
FromLibCom Party
ToDebating the Legal Aid
MessageBut assuming we have progressive taxation, the rich pay for it anyway.

Datenot recorded
FromLeviathan Party
ToDebating the Legal Aid
MessageAnd that's all that is, right now, an assumption.

Datenot recorded
FromLabour Party
ToDebating the Legal Aid
MessageIt's still possible to revisit the bill when the economy is implemented and we know more about the tax system.

Besides - we educate the children of the rich for free; we heal the rich for free; we should allow the rich to defend themselves in court for free.

Untill we look at it again anyway.

Datenot recorded
FromSocial Republican Party
ToDebating the Legal Aid
MessageI agree with labour.

Datenot recorded
FromRadical Centrists
ToDebating the Legal Aid
MessageWe offer our support.

Datenot recorded
FromLeviathan Party
ToDebating the Legal Aid
MessageWe are swayed, and vote yes.

subscribe to this discussion - unsubscribe

Voting

Vote Seats
yes
        

Total Seats: 95

no

    Total Seats: 0

    abstain

      Total Seats: 0


      Random fact: If your "Bills under debate" section is cluttered up with old bills created by inactive parties, report them for deletion on the Bill Clearouts Requests thread: http://forum.particracy.net/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4363

      Random quote: "I got nothing against no Viet Cong. No Vietnamese ever called me a nigger." - Muhammad Ali, 1967, refusing to fight in Vietnam

      This page was generated with PHP
      Copyright 2004-2010 Wouter Lievens
      Queries performed: 80