I.

INTRODUCTION.

Criminal defense attorneys often face overwhelming caseloads and limited time to devote to individual cases. 

These circumstances can leave criminal defendants and their loved ones feeling ignored, rushed through the judicial process, and concerned that their cases are not receiving the attention they deserve.

Anthony Scrivener Group exists to help bridge the communication gap between criminal defendants and their defense counsel. 

Through structured, substantive, and documented communications, our services are designed to help defendants become more informed and active participants in their defense, potentially placing them in a more favorable position to have important information and concerns brought to counsel's attention.

This approach addresses a genuine concern within the criminal justice system: the importance of meaningful attorney-client communications amid documented pressures on public defense resources. 

The United States Supreme Court has recognized the critical role of information supplied by criminal defendants, while research reported by national news organizations and the American Bar Association has documented the substantial workload challenges facing public defenders.

II.

THE CRITICAL ROLE OF A DEFENDANT'S COMMUNICATIONS WITH DEFENSE COUNSEL.

In Strickland v. Washington (1984) 466 U.S. 668, the United States Supreme Court examined the constitutional standards governing claims that a criminal defendant received ineffective assistance of counsel. 

Among the matters addressed was an attorney's responsibility to investigate the facts and circumstances relevant to a criminal defense. 

The Court explained that defense counsel must conduct reasonable investigations or make reasonable professional decisions that particular investigations are unnecessary.

Significantly, the Court recognized that the reasonableness of an attorney's decisions may depend substantially on information provided by the defendant. 

As the Court explained, “The reasonableness of counsel's actions may be determined or substantially influenced by the defendant's own statements or actions.” 

The Court further recognized that what the defendant communicates to counsel may be critical when subsequently evaluating the reasonableness of counsel's investigation and other litigation decisions.

(Id., at 690-691.)

 However, the realities of the criminal justice system renders such communication incompatible with attorney's heavy case loads.

III.

THE PROBLEM

The importance of meaningful communication between criminal defendants and their defense attorneys must be considered alongside a documented problem within the criminal justice system: excessive public defender workloads. 

In 2023, the American Bar Association and RAND Corporation published the National Public Defense Workload Study, drawing upon 17 previous state-level studies to establish updated standards for the time attorneys need to provide reasonably effective representation. 

The research identified excessive public defender caseloads as a widespread problem. The seriousness of this problem has also been illustrated through investigative journalism. 

In a January 31, 2019, investigation titled One Lawyer, 194 Felony Cases, and No Time, The New York Times examined the workload of a Louisiana public defender who was handling 194 felony cases at one point. 

Based on a state workload study, the reporting estimated that adequately handling those cases would require the equivalent of five full-time attorneys.

These findings raise an important practical concern. 

When defense attorneys are responsible for more cases than their available time can reasonably accommodate, opportunities for individual consultation, investigation, and meaningful communication may be constrained. 

For criminal defendants and their families, understanding these pressures helps explain why organized, purposeful, and documented communications deserve particular attention.

IV.

HOW ANTHONY SCRIVENER GROUP ASSISTS

Anthony Scrivener Group provides structured, communications services designed to assist criminal defendants in actively participating in their defense through organized, substantive, and documented communications with defense counsel.

Through our communications process, defendants can identify and articulate their questions, concerns, factual information, and requested matters for counsel's consideration. 

These communications are organized, prepared, and transmitted in a manner that establishes a documentary record of the information conveyed.

This process serves two important purposes: facilitating meaningful communications between the defendant and defense counsel, and preserving a contemporaneous record of those communications that may become relevant if counsel's decisions or actions are subsequently examined.