[JURIST] An American Bar Association [profession website] report has concluded that representation of indigent defendants in the United States is in a "state of crisis." The report illustrates examples of innocent defendants pleading guilty to serious crimes, most often because of incompetent lawyers and pressure to accept guilty pleas. The ABA has more information [ABA press release], including the full text of the report [PDF] and an executive summary [PDF]. AP has a summary of the findings.