Feature Article
A SERVANT OF JUSTICE
Jonathan Rapping, Founder of Gideon’s Promise
By Erik J Provitt
2L, Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School
[email protected]
G
ideon v. Wainwright, is a landmark case in the history
of the United States Supreme Court. In this case,
the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that state
courts are required to provide counsel in criminal cases to
defendants who otherwise are unable to afford to pay for their
own defense. Since then, municipalities, often constrained
by minimalist budgets, have been working to balance the
scales of justice and the constitutional rights afforded to its
citizens under the 14th amendment. Attorney, legal defense
advocate and Professor at Law, Jonathan Rapping, helps
to fulfill the promise of Gideon. Rapping is the President
and Founder of Gideon’s Promise, a non-profit organization
dedicated to training public defenders in underresourced
offices throughout the country. Gideon’s Promise has
training programs with more than 300 participants in more
than 35 offices across the country. Additionally, Rapping is
the Director of the Honors Program in Criminal Justice at
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, where he also teaches
criminal law and criminal procedure.
Together with Gideon’s Promise’s Executive Director, Ilham
Askia, Rapping continues to grow Gideon’s Promise. For the
first time, Gideon’s Promise’s training model will be used as
the model for training all public defenders with the Maryland
Office of the Public Defender. Rapping was named a 2014
MacArthur Genius Fellow for the organization’s mission to
ensure those unable to afford a criminal defense
attorney have the highest quality defense
representation. The MacArthur Fellow Program
awards unrestricted fellowships to talented
individuals who have shown extraordinary
originality and dedication in their creative
pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction.
Professor Rapping received the award because
of the work Gideon’s Promise continues to do to
strengthen public defenders and transform public
defense. He will receive $625,000, paid out over
five years.
happy are lawyers. The difference is that the former are
doing work they are passionate about; work that provides
them meaning and purpose. Through Gideon’s Promise we
have built a growing community of public defenders driven
by a shared purpose to make equal justice a reality. They
work hard, struggle mightily, and sacrifice a lot. But they are
inspiring because they are doing the noblest work with the
least recognition. Being in a community with so many who
represent the best of our profession keeps me inspired and
energized every day.”
As for what will be done with the prize money, “We have
no idea. We haven’t made plans,” he said, “but building a
non-profit, particularly one that is committed to justice for a
population that we care little about as a society, is fraught
with risk. We have a vision to grow this movement across
the nation, and drive criminal justice reform broadly. But
funding this vision is a year-to-year challenge. So we will
put the money aside, continue with business as usual, and
know we have a bit of a cushion for hard times.” Jonathan
Rapping is an attorney-servant in the truest sense of the
words.
Regarding the work he does with Gideon’s
Promise, Rapping says, “I always say the
people I know who are happiest in this world
Jonathan Rapping, President and Founder of Gideon’s Promise.
are lawyers. The people I know who are least
6 THE ATLANTA LAWYER
November 2014
The Official News Publication of the Atlanta Bar Association