Episode 21: What is the Impact of Legal Counsel at First Hearings?
Episode 21: What is the Impact of Legal Counsel at First Hearings?  
Podcast: Proof Over Precedent
Published On: Mon Nov 03 2025
Description: Image by Felicia Quan, J.D. candidate, Harvard Law School Can the presence of legal counsel at a criminal justice defendant’s first court hearing transform their journey through the justice system? Two Texas counties examined this possibility in a now-completed A2J Lab study. Director Jim Greiner hosts fellow A2J Lab researcher Renee Danser and Texas A&M researchers George Nafault and Bethany Patterson in a discussion about the project results and their potential impact on legal representation and judicial decision making going forward. Read the corresponding blog post. Speakers: D. James Greiner, Honorable S. William Green Professor of Public Law at Harvard Law School; Faculty Director of the Access to Justice Lab at Harvard Law School Renee L. Danser, Associate Director of Research and Strategic Partnerships, Access to Justice Lab at Harvard Law School George Naufal, Associate Research Scientist, Public Policy Research Institute, Texas A&M University Bethany Patterson, Research Associate, Public Policy Research Institute, Texas A&M University Resources mentioned: Recognizance Release Order Indigency Determination Texas Indigent Defense Commission Arnold Ventures Share feedback and relevant topics you would like the A2J Lab to discuss: a2jlab@law.harvard.edu Stay connected with the Access to Justice Lab: Email newsletter Facebook BlueSky Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Support the A2J Lab Proof Over Precedent cover art by Courtney Chrystal