After creating the film for a class, Baker’s professor, Robert Alvers, presented the final product to MSU-based TV station WKAR-TV, which will debut the documentary at 8 p.m. today.

“On average, (Alvers) will bring one or two projects a year to air from his class,” said Kent Wieland, WKAR-TV station manager.

The documentary got its name because of the use of public defense attorneys in Lloyd’s case, which are assigned to those who cannot afford an attorney on their own.

Baker said the fact there is no system in place to regulate how public defense attorneys are assigned to cases is what inspired and motivated him to make the film.

“It is like a vicious cycle,” Baker said.

“People who are on trial for crimes are usually the ones who can not afford attorneys. Then, they get attorneys who really don’t care and those on trial are not adequately defended.”

In addition to airing on WKAR-TV, “Publicly Defended” will be shown during the East Lansing Film Festival this October.

Baker said he envisioned what he wanted the documentary to be in May with the help of some of Alvers’ former students.

“I really want to generate talk,” Baker said. “I want to get people to think when they get those opportunities to vote and think about who they are really voting for.”

Baker said most of the interviews took place in Detroit, with Lloyd’s sister, Ruth Harlin, sharing her own insight on Lloyd’s life after his release and how it affected their family.

Getting interviews with Lloyd required Baker to met certain guidelines.

“Lloyd would only let me interview him in public places because he said the justice system has made him so
paranoid of being accused of another crime,” Baker said.

The documentary is being used as an educational tool and will show how Lloyd was stripped of his basic human rights, Baker said.

“We usually try to put things on the air by MSU faculty and students,” WKAR-TV Promotions Director Jeanie Croope said.

As the people standing between individuals and their freedom, public defenders might not be breaking news, but people still should be aware of the job and the power they hold, Baker said.

“This is not front page news,” Baker said. “People will not understand something as dry as social justice without some type of person or family with a story to stand behind those statistics.”

Along with the standard hurdles creating a film requires, Baker said making the film was emotionally difficult as well.

“Sometimes, I got really sad,” Baker said.

“It was hard to see that this type of stuff actually happened to people.”