John Cornyn: “I share the perspective that Texas' system is preserved as a so-called ``effective system'' under the statute. And that…”

“I share the perspective that Texas' system is preserved as a so-called ``effective system'' under the statute. And that is critically important. As you point out, in 2001, the Texas Legislature passed the Texas Fair Defense Act to overhaul Texas' indigent criminal defense system. The legislation passed ensures prompt appointment of an attorney for indigent criminal defendants, provides guidelines on method of appointment for counsel, establishes minimum standards for appointed attorneys in capital cases, and provides both State resources and oversight of county's indigent defense systems through a State Task Force on Indigent Defense. It is this system or any future version of it that specifically is intended to be protected by this language, is it not?”