Defending the Right to Counsel: Concerts for Indigent Defense
Photo Caption: New Orleans’ Walter “Wolfman” Washington started the celebration of Gideon’s 60th year
If you’re feeling like the constitutional right to counsel is more vulnerable than ever, you’re absolutely right. If wish there were some way to protect it, consider this:
You can celebrate Gideon’s anniversary with a bang in March 2026 by helping present a Concert for Indigent Defense in your region. It’s easy: musicians play; defenders get a prime media opportunity; and the office gets to celebrate together, with neighbors and friends.
This isn’t just an idea. Concerts for Indigent Defense have been presented in New Orleans, Denver, Bridgeport (CT), Boston, Santa Fe, Phoenix, Lexington, Lawrence (KS), and Fredericksburg (VA), and have proven easy, enjoyable, and worthwhile. In fact, Denver’s been presenting them since their first year (2017), with New Orleans and Bridgeport running a close second, and to celebrate Gideon’s 60th in 2023 there were fourteen Concerts for Indigent Defense across the country.
This piece explains the idea, the impact, and the simple steps you and your office can take to easily present a local Concert for Indigent Defense in March 2026.
What are Concerts for Indigent Defense?
Concerts for Indigent Defense are not fundraisers; they’re attention-raisers. The primary goal is to spark public and policymaker support for public defense. On the website you can see how defenders across country have celebrated Gideon’s anniversary. At this pivotal point in our Constitution’s history, our goal is to – with you – present over 25 Concerts for Indigent Defense across the country on/around March 18.
The bottom line goal of Concerts for Indigent Defense is to create a positive and significant opportunity for defenders and our supporters to protect strengthen support for the constitutional right to counsel. They do so by serving are rallying points for defender collaborations and musician engagement that rally public, media, and policymaker attention and focus it on the importance of the constitutional right to counsel in your community.
The simple elements are that a defender/office connects with a local musician/band and invite them to dedicate an existing show (or one they’ll arrange) on/near March 18 as a “Concert for Indigent Defense.” When a band agrees to do so, the musicians have provided local defenders with a great media hook and overall opportunity to educate and energize the public about supporting the right to counsel… While also energizing defender offices and efforts to protect justice in their courtrooms, legislatures, and public budgets. Here’s a bit more about it all.
The Easy Steps to Present a Concerts for Indigent Defense in March 2026
It’s quite easy to present and secure publicity for a Concert for Indigent Defense. The key steps are:
- Get musician interest: Secure the interest of a local gigging musician, band, or music venue to dedicate one of their shows on/around March 18 (Gideon’s anniversary) as a Concert for Indigent Defense. The musicians don’t have to say or do anything in particular; simply designating their show – like wearing an armband or ribbon – speaks volumes.
- Publicize the show: Ask your office to issue a press release (for which we have examples and templates) and social posts in early March about the Concert and send it out to mainstream, legal, music, and other state and local media.
- Invite your team to the celebration! Defender offices deserve all the enjoyment and recognition they can get. Concerts for Indigent Defense are a great way for your team to meet and be recognized in a positive social setting.
Keys to Success
- Secure your show early: The key to catalyzing a Concert for Indigent Defense is to have one lined up. Once you have that, your office can begin preparing a press advisory and social posts about it; line up the media contacts you’ll reach out to (with help from allied organizations, if needed; develop the substance and quotes for your press release; and get your office excited about your Gideon Day celebration.
- Follow up on your media outreach: Because media professionals are also very busy, follow-up emails/phone calls to each outlet will typically get you a specific response from a specific person. With this, you’ll have secured their attention and be able to specifically engage them about the Concert and what’s needed to enable proper public defense in your jurisdiction…This will often result in coverage, while also developing a media relationship you can maintain on future issues, too.
- Keep it simple! If you’ve secured a musician’s willingness, distributed and followed up on a solid press advisory and social media, and invited your teammates and allies to the show, you’ll be in great shape. This is because the existence of the event and publicity about it are the essential elements, and the good times for you and yours are a valuable bonus.
Concerts for Indigent Defense have proven a great opportunity to secure seriously needed public education about the value of public defense. Gideon’s anniversary is already a hook to secure media. A Concert for Indigent Defense leverages to create what’s often defenders’ best annual opportunity for positive public education and support building. And it’s proven a great way for public defenders’ work to be celebrated, together and with musicians and their fans.
If you or your office might like to present a Concert for Indigent Defense in March 2026, you’ll find it very simple – especially if you start exploring it soon. If you’re interested and/or have any questions, please feel free to drop me a line at Stephen@ConcertsforIndigentDefense.org – and/or keep an eye out for the upcoming NAPD webinar about the same, which will also include defenders who have previously presented Concerts for Indigent Defense (and are doing so again this year!)
Stephen Saloom