.A Historical-Analytical Reconsideration of the Reasons Behind the Defendant's Right to Counsel in Criminal Proceedings from the Procedural Rights Perspective

The accused right of having an attorney in the criminal process is one of the fundamental manifestations of citizenship. Advocacy is of utmost importance as one of the most fundamental guarantees of fairness in criminal trials. This right is now recognized in most international human rights conventions as well as in most legal systems around the world. Since a historical study of how this right is recognized has a significant impact on its present guarantee, a historical study of the right is necessary. The approach of the present study is that the right to counsel is closely related to the concept of "due process" and is based on that. The term is a historical concept that underpins the formation and development of the "right to a fair trial" and consequently the right to counsel. The present study shows the relationship between fairness in criminal proceedings on the one hand and guarantees of access to defense counsel on the other.