Thirty years seems like a long time.

That's about as long as I have worked at the ACLU of Michigan here in Detroit. During that time I have seen some of the most devastating examples of government violations of constitutional rights.

Over the years, I've seen a pattern of indifference regarding people who can't afford to hire their own private lawyer. As a result, these “indigents” must depend upon Michigan’s broken public defense system.

Whether Michigan’s Supreme Court decides to allow our lawsuit to move forward after hearing arguments today or not, it is still deeply satisfying to witness the success of this movement. I know that with this attention, one day all those accused of a crime in Michigan receive the same quality of justice, no matter how rich or poor.

I hear firsthand evidence of the need to fix this broken system every day. Part of my job is speaking directly to people reaching out for the ACLU of Michigan's help. Over the years, I have heard complaints about on-the-spot court-appointed lawyers with huge caseloads and very little resources. These lawyers are unable to provide the legal representation necessary to help exonerate an innocent person, or work out a fair plea and sentence.

For me, it was tremendously frustrating that I could only express our sadness to these victims of inadequate assistance of counsel. I would tell them that we are working to change the system, that we're in Lansing advocating for reforms every day. And now that day is here.

Here at the ACLU of Michigan, we speak to those who suffer from poverty and are extremely vulnerable to being swept through the system. They are lost in a system that has broken its constitutional promise.

There are innocent people who are serving prison sentences, and there are people who endure harsher penalties than is warranted, with no hope that their voice can be heard. We have even heard from poor people who have been denied court appointed counsel altogether by their county because it is believed that they are not “poor enough.”

Hopefully, the Michigan Supreme Court will do the right thing and we can begin to reform and heal. Our court appointed lawyer system should be exemplary, we can’t afford anything less.

By Brenda Bove, ACLU of Michigan paralegal