John Oliver reveals the shocking truth behind the Miranda warning, which guarantees everyone the right to an attorney; but the truth is, public defenders are grossly overworked and shamefully underpaid. With only seven minutes to devote to your trial preparation, and up to 300 other clients, public defenders often tell clients to plead guilty…A big no-no! Here’s some free advice – never plead guilty. I don’t care what your overworked, underpaid public defender says. Heck, I don’t even care if you did it.
This is another dynamite episode in which John blows the lid off of the corruption in our justice system. Public defenders were a great idea. Americans were promised ‘free’ legal assistance; but now if often comes with a plethora of fees that drag down the poor and needy, and harried legal advice that fills jail cells.
There are lighter moments. In a real life film clip, an angry judge challenges a public defender to a fist fight in the hallway of the courtroom. That’s entertainment! In which state did the courtroom battle take place? I’ll bet you know the answer.
To really bring the issues home in entertaining fashion, actors replicate every cop show and movie you’ve seen, with one exception. When the police read the perps their Miranda rights, it takes quite a bit longer than usual, because they tell their prisoners exactly what those rights mean – now.