Final answer:
The Scottsboro boys were defended by lawyers associated with the Communist Party, with additional support from the NAACP. Despite the Supreme Court overturning the convictions due to unfair trials, it took years to secure the release of most of the defendants.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of lawyers who defended the Scottsboro boys during the first trial were primarily associated with the Communist Party. These legal defenses were supplemented by the NAACP's efforts. The Communist Party took a primary role in financing civil rights cases and defending African Americans during the 1930s. The first trials revealed a judicial system that relied on all-White juries and frequently provided inadequate legal representation for defendants of color, which was particularly evident in this case. In the Scottsboro case, the U.S. Supreme Court later ruled that due process had been denied and overturned the convictions, but it took many years and considerable legal wrangling to secure the release of most of the defendants.