Montclair Filmmaker's 'Gideon's Army' Premieres on HBO Monday

Montclair's Dawn Porter has been busy this week promoting her film Gideon's Army, which debuts on HBO on Monday at 9 p.m.

In the acclaimed documentary, Porter follows three young public defenders in the Deep South who persevere despite low pay, grueling hours and staggering caseloads. 

It is the lawyer's first film and it's being called "HBO's most illuminating crime drama since The Wire" by The Village Voice. 

In the last 10 days, Porter has appeared on The Daily Show, with Melissa Harris-Perry on MSNBC and on WNYC's The Leonard Lopate Show.

According to the film's website:

Gideon's Army follows the personal stories of Travis Williams, Brandy Alexander and June Hardwick, three young public defenders who are part of a small group of idealistic lawyers in the Deep South challenging the assumptions that drive a criminal justice system strained to the breaking point.

Backed by mentor Jonathan “Rap” Rapping, a charismatic leader who heads the Southern Public Defender Training Center (now known as Gideon’s Promise) they struggle against long hours, low pay and staggering caseloads so common that even the most committed often give up in their first year.

Nearly 50 years since the landmark Supreme Court ruling Gideon vs. Wainwright that established the right to counsel, can these courageous lawyers revolutionize the way America thinks about indigent defense and make “justice for all” a reality?"
Gideon's Army premieres on HBO on Monday, July 1, at 9 p.m. It was shown at the Montclair Film Festival this spring.

Gideon's Army was featured at the Montclair Film Festival this spring.