GIDEON’S ARMY follows the personal stories of Travis Williams, Brandy Alexander and June Hardwick, three young public defenders who are part of a small group of idealistic lawyers in the Deep South challenging the assumptions that drive a criminal justice system strained to the breaking point. Backed by mentor Jonathan “Rap” Rapping, a charismatic leader who heads the Southern Public Defender Training Center (now known as Gideon’s Promise) they struggle against long hours, low pay and staggering caseloads so common that even the most committed often give up in their first year. Nearly 50 years since the landmark Supreme Court ruling Gideon vs. Wainwright that established the right to counsel, can these courageous lawyers revolutionize the way America thinks about indigent defense and make “justice for all” a reality?
An official selection in the prestigious U.S. Documentary Competition at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, GIDEON’S ARMY was awarded the editing prize at the festival. The film will premiere on HBO summer 2013.
The Ford Foundation and HBO Documentary Films presents GIDEON’S ARMY; produced by Trilogy Films in association with Motto Pictures.
Additional Videos. Below are additional videos about the documentary.
Video 1
- Click here for the Dawn Porter interview on The Daily Show – Part 1 of 3
- Click here for the Dawn Porter interview on The Daily Show – Part 2 of 3
- Click here for the Dawn Porter interview on The Daily Show – Part 3 of 3
Video 2
Video 3
Video 4
Video 5
Video 6
