Sen. Ossoff Leads Effort to Protect Americans’ Civil Rights in Federal Courts

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is leading an effort to protect civil rights in Federal courts.

Sen. Ossoff is spearheading a new inquiry into numerous Federal courts' reported failures to uphold Americans' civil rights as they await a full trial.

According to a recent study, in numerous Federal courts across the country, judges jail defendants without lawyers at initial appearance hearings, in violation of their civil rights.

"Ensuring that every person is afforded legal counsel at their first appearance before a federal judge is not only a statutory requirement-it is a foundational protection for our adversarial legal system," wrote Sen. Ossoff. "Given the gravity of these findings, I urge the Judicial Conference to prioritize this issue as a matter of urgent concern and bring the offending district courts into compliance with federal law immediately to ensure that no individual is jailed without the benefit of legal representation at the outset of their case."

According to the study, proceeding unrepresented at an initial appearance severely disadvantages defendants, leading to increased pretrial detention rates.

Sen. Ossoff continues working to ensure civil and human rights are safeguarded.

In May, Sens. Ossoff and Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced the bipartisan Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Reauthorization Act to help secure justice for civil rights cold case victims and their families.

In 2024, President Biden signed into law Sen. Ossoff's bipartisan Federal Prison Oversight Act, prison reform legislation to overhaul independent oversight of the Federal Bureau of Prison's 122 facilities nationwide.

Click here to read Sen. Ossoff's letter to the Judicial Conference.

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