As the nation moved into the era of mass incarceration in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, indigent defense was poorly funded, often denied in practice, and dealt with crushing caseloads. TDA fought effectively to bring a different level of service to clients. Alumni include Jeff Robinson, Twyla Carter, Jeff Ellis, James Bible, Anita Khandelwal, and countless others who dedicated their careers to excellent representation of people without the resources to choose their own counsel.