Final answer:
Society does not automatically pay for the defense of those convicted of DUI; defendants have a right to a public defender only if they cannot afford an attorney. This was established through legal precedents, ensuring the right to counsel for those facing imprisonment. The effectiveness of public defenders remains a concern due to workload and funding issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
For those convicted of DUI, society does not automatically pay for their defence. Instead, defendants have a constitutional right to legal representation, which can include a public defender if they cannot afford an attorney. This right was established through a series of court cases, most notably in Gideon v. Wainwright, which ruled that the state must provide an attorney to defendants in criminal cases who are unable to afford their own. However, this does not mean that society pays for the defense of all individuals accused of a crime; it is specifically for those who have been assessed and found to be unable to pay for legal representation themselves. Public defenders are government-employed lawyers tasked with this role, although they are often underpaid and overworked.
The case of Gideon v. Wainwright established a significant precedent in the American judicial system, ensuring the right to counsel for defendants facing imprisonment. The Supreme Court later extended the ruling to apply to any case in which a person faced the possibility of loss of liberty. Despite the right to a public defender, the issue of inadequate legal representation and its impacts on the fairness of trials remain a concern within the justice system.