Final answer:
The specific percentage of federal defendants who obtain private defense is not provided, but the right to representation is guaranteed by the Supreme Court's Gideon v. Wainwright ruling. Defendants may choose private defense if they can afford it, due to the issues faced by public defenders, including underfunding and overwhelming caseloads.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the percentage of federal defendants who obtain private defense representation. In the United States, defendants facing serious crimes with the possibility of imprisonment or significant fines have the constitutional right to legal representation. If defendants can afford it, they may hire a private defense attorney; otherwise, they are provided with a public defender.
The landmark Supreme Court case Gideon v. Wainwright ensures that defendants facing any loss of liberty are entitled to representation. However, due to the strain on the public defense system, outlined by an overwhelmed workforce and underfunding, some individuals choose to retain private counsel when possible, although specific percentages are not provided here.
Originally, accused individuals were expected to pay for their legal representation, but the necessity for state-funded defense for the indigent was recognized after the 1932 case in Scottsboro, Alabama. Consequently, the provision of a defense attorney has become a cornerstone of the American legal system.
The Supreme Court's extension of the Gideon ruling resulted in the need for more public defenders. Yet, this has also highlighted the issues of underpayment and caseload stress for these professionals, possibly influencing some defendants to turn to private defense if within their means.