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Public Defense News Archive

Here you will find current public defense news, as well as past news archived reverse chronologically. The ABA does not maintain external links.
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July 2025

7/16/25

Do you have a case on appeal, the outcome of which would have a significant effect on criminal law or procedure? Please consider consulting with ABA SCLAID about seeking an amicus brief with the ABA Amicus Committee. We can help determine if the issues in the case implicate ABA policy, which is a threshold requirement for any ABA amicus brief. The amicus committee tends to favor cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, but it will approve federal appeals court and state supreme court briefs from time to time. Be aware that, because the ABA is a member led organization with a government-like structure, the amicus approval process takes longer than one might expect. SCLAID has been unable to assist attorneys with potentially amicus-worthy cases in recent months due to insufficient time. Please reach out to SCLAID 10 weeks or more before the amicus brief’s anticipated filing deadline to ensure there is enough time to review the case, recruit amicus counsel, submit the amicus application to the committee, obtain initial approval from the committee, draft the brief, and have the draft reviewed by the committee. Contact ABA Indigent Defense Counsel Mark Pickett, [email protected], about your case.

This is a light week for news, but there are a few items about a looming public defender strike in New York.

National:

ABA honors 2025 public service award recipients

Alaska:

Mother, son charged with arson after Walker County Public Defender’s Office destroyed by fire

California:

Fair representation: A California bill aims to improve public defense funding

Illinois:

This Illinois Reform May Bring Relief to Overworked Public Defenders

Louisiana:

Attorneys representing poor defendants in federal court told they won’t be paid on time

Maine:

Wait times for public defenders in Penobscot County have plummeted

Massachusetts:

Defendants released in Mass. as pay dispute with public defenders remains unresolved

Mississippi:

Mississippi Public Defender, Andre' De Gruy, Talks Reform With New Pilot Program

New York:

Hundreds of Legal Services Staff Strike as Larger Walkout Looms

First group of legal services attys go on strike as deadline for mass strike approaches

Brooklyn Defenders takes charge at embattled Queens legal services provider

NYC nearly doubles spending on immigration legal services

North Dakota:

Plain Talk: ND Legislature stepped up with funding to move public defenders 'in the right direction'

North Dakota attorneys withdraw from federal public defender work due to funding gap

Pennsylvania:

Shusterman’s Juvenile Justice Reform Bills Clear Pennsylvania House

Texas:

Brazos County Public Defender’s Office Receives Three State Grants

Wyoming:

Public defender pushes back as removal looms (Jackson Hole)

Podcasts:

Public Defenseless:

How were Incarcerated People Impacted by the NY Correctional Officers' Illegal Wild Cat Strike? w/Emily Napier Singletary and Derek Singletary

The Law Clinic Helping Public Defenders Fight Back Against New Police Technology w/Megan Graham

7/9/25

Do you have a case on appeal, the outcome of which would have a significant effect on criminal law or procedure? Please consider consulting with ABA SCLAID about seeking an amicus brief with the ABA Amicus Committee. We can help determine if the issues in the case implicate ABA policy, which is a threshold requirement for any ABA amicus brief. The amicus committee tends to favor cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, but it will approve federal appeals court and state supreme court briefs from time to time. Be aware that, because the ABA is a member led organization with a government-like structure, the amicus approval process takes longer than one might expect. SCLAID has been unable to assist attorneys with potentially amicus-worthy cases in recent months due to insufficient time. Please reach out to SCLAID 10 weeks or more before the amicus brief’s anticipated filing deadline to ensure there is enough time to review the case, recruit amicus counsel, submit the amicus application to the committee, obtain initial approval from the committee, draft the brief, and have the draft reviewed by the committee. Contact ABA Indigent Defense Counsel Mark Pickett, [email protected], about your case.

Looks for stories this week about the appointed counsel work stoppage in Massachusetts, ongoing turmoil in Louisiana, and a Queens, New York public defender who was falsely accused of smuggling drugs into Rikers Island.

This issue of Public Defense News covers two weeks due to the July 4 holiday.

Of Interest:

Paying Attorneys of the Sixth – new tool from 6AC that lists appointed counsel compensation rates in every U.S. jurisdiction

June 2025

6/25/25

This issue covers the last two weeks.

Arizona:

Contracts OK’d for public defense in Justice Court (Graham County)

Idaho:

State Public Defenders to continue using public defense offices in Jefferson County Annex building

Indiana:

9 Indiana counties chosen for misdemeanor defense reimbursement pilot

Louisiana:

‘Too much drama’: Public defenders quit Louisiana governor's oversight board

Public defenders facing termination accuse Louisiana official of discriminating against women

Maine:

Mills First Two Vetos Nix Farmworker Unionization and Indigent Defense Bills

State Supreme Court halts indigent defense hearings, pending appeal

Maine could run out of money for public defenders, commission warns

Maine supreme court to decide whether state must release people without lawyers from jails

Massachusetts:

Crisis looming in Massachusetts as court-appointed attorneys refuse to take on more cases

Wake Up Call: Massachusetts’ Justice System Nears Breaking Point

‘Constitutional breakdown’ worsens as bar advocates still refuse to take new cases, defense attorneys say

Public Defenders Strike Could Soon Impact Nantucket's Legal System

Mississippi:

Mississippi Makes Move Toward State-Funded Public Defenders With ‘Day 1’ Experiment

From Budget Chaos to Public Defenders: Mississippi Poised to Fund ‘Day 1’ Experiment

New Mexico:

Two Longtime Attorneys Appointed To New Mexico Public Defender Commission

Meet the Lawyer in Snakeskin Boots Who Takes Cases for as Little as Minimum Wage (paywall)

New York:

As public defender strike looms, appellate attorneys are demanding a higher wage (NYC)

Founder of NYC public defender office indicted on fraud charges

North Carolina:

Will NC budget end aid for people seeking justice in civil court? What we know.

Oregon:

Oregon state lawmakers approve budget bill to help stem public defense crisis

Budget advances to resolve public defender system crisis

Pennsylvania:

Fired Allegheny County chief public defender sues for wrongful termination

Texas:

Harris County officials appoint Judge Genesis Draper as new chief public defender

Utah:

Salt Lake County Democrats select public defender for County Council seat

Washington:

VIDEO: Fellowship Program Addresses Public Defender Shortage

State high court rules on a pathway to reducing public defender caseloads

Podcasts:

Public Defenseless:

After a Rocky Start, What Does the Future Hold for Idaho's New State Public Defender System w/Eric Fredericksen

How Public Defenders Can Create Equitable Public Safety Policies w/Hans Menos and Rob Kenter

How San Francisco Public Defenders Used the Racial Justice Act to Combat Implicit Racial Bias in the Legal System w/Sujung Kim and Lilah Wolf

6/11/25

Lots of news out of the Pacific Northwest this week. The Washington Supreme Court has issued its long-awaited order on caseload standards, while Oregon continues to deal with its unrepresented crisis under the leadership of a new director.

California:

The Man Who Unsolved a Murder:  If you’re accused of a crime, will someone investigate your side of the story? In California, there’s no guarantee.

California Is Failing to Provide a Vital Safeguard Against Wrongful Convictions

Illinois:

Bill Creating a State Public Defender’s Office Is Headed to Pritzker’s Desk

Baby food safety, press freedom, public defender measures will head to governor

Massachusetts:

Bar advocate revolt over low pay expected to balloon across the state

Michigan:

Detroit criminal justice group receives grant from NFL

Branch County commissioners bring forward request for Public Defender search committee

New Hampshire:

Indigent defense shortage persists in NH, despite pay raise

Ohio:

How client advocates are quietly reshaping criminal defense

Oregon:

New leader of Oregon public defense agency delivers 12-month plan to address crisis

Budget advances to fund Oregon Public Defense Commission, resolve crisis

New strategy aims to ease Oregon's public defense crisis by fall

Newly-appointed public defense head mounts effort to stem Oregon’s public defense pileup

Oregon’s Public Defense Crisis Worsens, with 4,400 Unrepresented Individuals

Pennsylvania:

Philly is monitoring more kids by GPS than ever. And it’s turning over geolocation data to law enforcement, no warrant required.

Washington:

Press Release: Washington Supreme Court Issues Interim Order on Public Defense Standards

WA Supreme Court orders much lower caseloads for public defenders

Washington’s Supreme Court slashes public defender caseload limits

Podcasts:

Public Defenseless:

Why is the LA County DA Bringing Back Death Penalty Prosecutions? w/Ricardo Garcia

Is Illinois Taking the First Step to Establish State Wide Public Defense? w/Elisabeth Pollock and Stephanie Kollmann

6/4/25

This issue of Public Defense News covers the last two weeks.

Look for lots of items in this issue about various jurisdictions dealing with excessive public defense workloads and low pay, including the bar advocate work stoppage in Massachusetts.

National:

Criminal Defense Attorneys Facing Work Without Pay Because Of Poor Budgeting

Defense Lawyers Face Months Without Pay as Federal Funds Dry Up

Alabama:

Jefferson County public defenders help clients turn their lives around: ‘I am free’

Arizona:

Graham Board of Supervisors OK Superior Court public defender contracts

California:

A program paying California jurors $100 a day would end abruptly due to Newsom’s new budget

AB 690 Targets Flawed Indigent Defense Contracts in California

S.F. DA has ‘pattern and practice’ of withholding evidence, public defenders allege

Illinois:

VIEWS: Illinois was once a leader in public defense – we can be again

Hoover resigns as chief public defender to return to private practice; Citro appointed as interim chief (Adams County)

Kansas:

Public defender William Naeger files for Topeka City Council

Kentucky:

Upbringing in faith motivates graduate to serve as public defender

Maine:

Penobscot County Jail inmates without lawyers could be released next month

Press Release: Access to justice is a right. Here’s how we’re working to protect it.

Massachusetts:

Massachusetts private attorneys, seeking pay raise, refuse criminal defense work

‘The end result is going to be chaos’: Bar advocates to halt indigent defense work over stagnant pay

Defense attorneys stop work; courts, clients may quickly feel impacts

Michigan:

Glaser resigns as Branch County public defender

Minnesota:

Scott Cutcher for the defense: After 30-plus years, public defender calls it quits

New York:

St. Lawrence County reshuffles Public Defender's Office due to staffing shortages

Greenburgh Appoints Tarrytown Public Defender As Town Judge

North Carolina:

Lenoir County Commissioners recognize volunteers, back public defender's office

NC ends Mecklenburg contract for children’s court defense. It hopes 8 attorneys can fill gap

North Dakota:

Is it time for a $3,500 raise for the public defender?

Ohio:

Settlement reached in public defender’s case against prosecutor

Oregon:

New strategy aims to ease Oregon's public defense crisis by fall

Oregon Public Defense Commission releases plan to resolve unrepresented crisis

Newly-appointed public defense head mounts effort to stem Oregon’s public defense pileup

Pennsylvania:

Official discusses Indigent Defense Grant Program (Juniata County)

Major grants address homelessness issues, indigent defense locally (Mifflin County)

Rhode Island:

R.I. public defenders get helping hand, but still understaffed

Texas:

Shortage of Criminal Defense Attorneys in Rural Texas: Lessons for Dallas Legal Community

ACLU of Texas Condemns S.B. 9 as an Attack on the Poor and on Judicial Discretion

Virginia:

FBI questions public defenders about Albemarle courthouse encounter with plainclothes ICE agents

Washington:

Anacortes to swap in-house public defender for outside contractor

International:

Armenia: “The burden on the public defender’s office is increasing, but the state is not providing sufficient resources in return”: lawyer

Podcasts:

Public Defenseless:

Why are Minnesota Public Defenders Trying to Form an Independent Union? w/Bob Kolstad, Maggie Bott, Olivia Henstein

Why has the San Francisco Public Defender Stopped Taking New Cases One Day a Week? w/Mano Raju

Is There a Better Way to Teach Criminal Law? Part I w/Alice Ristroph

Is There a Better Way to Teach Criminal Law Part II w/Andrew Crespo

How a New Bail Law and Immigration Enforcement is Impacting Public Defense in Charleston, South Carolina w/Cameron Blazer

May 2025

5/21/25

If your office is accepting intern or clerkship applications, please let us know! We would like to offer more student opportunities in our jobs section. Just email [email protected] and provide a link to the posting.

National:

Staffing and Funding Shortages Persist for Public Defenders

California:

San Francisco public defender says caseload is too heavy, will scale back service

$1 Billion Disparity in Prosecution Funding vs Public Defense

Connecticut:

Conn. Public Defender Watchdog Wants Chief's Firing Upheld (partial paywall)

Illinois:

Opinion: State can again be leader in public defense

Letters: Lawmakers should pass the FAIR Act to ensure all Illinoisans get a fair defense in court

Opinion: Illinois public defenders, their clients deserve a FAIR shake

Indiana:

Commissioners OK Furniture Quote For Public Defender’s Office

Iowa:

Here’s what Iowa lawmakers did on marathon final day of session

Maine:

Judge Issues Order that May Lead to Release of Criminal Defendants Waiting for Lawyers, Despite State’s Appeal

ACLU of Maine gives legal updates, sounds alarm on civil liberties issues in virtual meeting

Could releasing low-income defendants fix Maine's constitutional crisis? Ask Massachusetts

Nevada:

Las Vegas judge removed from all criminal cases after claiming public defender had sex with client

North Dakota:

Dickson Receives 2025 District of North Dakota Criminal Justice Act Distinguished Panel Attorney Award.

Oregon:

Oregon’s public defense backlog persists even as ranks of public defenders grow

Pennsylvania:

Allegheny County chief public defender fired after HR investigation

South Dakota:

State’s first indigent-defense services start this summer

Tennessee:

Kelley Henry: Death Row Defense Attorney (Audio Interview)

Texas:

Half of Harris County’s reforms post-George Floyd were successful. 1 leader says 'We won't back down'

Utah:

Weber County Commission approves contract for indigent defense

Northern Mariana Islands:

Public Defender’s Office behind on payments to vendors

Podcasts:

Public Defenseless:

How the Chief Public Defender of Louisiana is Retaliating Against Public Defenders who Oppose his Power Grab w/Jim Boren

How Missouri Public Defenders are Leading the Nation In Statewide Holistic Defender Services w/Missouri Public Defenders

5/14/25

If your office is accepting intern or clerkship applications, please let us know! We would like to offer more student opportunities in our jobs section. Just email [email protected] and provide a link to the posting.

Arkansas:

Defense begins presenting evidence in public defender pay disparity case in federal court

Jury finds in favor of Black public defender who sued for pay disparity, was awarded just $25,013

California:

SF public defender stops taking cases, citing Lurie’s anti-fentanyl surge

California Criticized for Inadequate Funding of Indigent Defense in Justice System

Regional: Public Defender Groups Call For Funding For Indigent Defense Cases

Public defenders seek $120M as Proposition 36 Strains Resources

Idaho:

Demand for capital defense attorneys may soon skyrocket in Idaho due to new law

Louisiana:

Louisiana lawmakers deny state public defender’s ‘power grab’ – again

Maine:

Judge will move forward to release defendants, despite appeal

Maine court rejects state's attempt to pause habeas hearings for indigent defendants who were denied counsel

Michigan:

Houghton County Board mulls public defender issues

Nevada:

Las Vegas judge accuses public defender of having sex with client, documents say

New York:

Press Release: NYSBA Commends Governor, Legislature for Tackling Mental Health Crisis but Decries Sweep of $120 Million From Indigent Legal Services

St. Lawrence County pauses conflict defender office and moves staff to public defender

Disparities in Crime Enforcement Persist in NYC Despite Progress

Ohio:

Fayette Commissioners review public defender contract, open bike path bids

Oklahoma:

Federal Public Defenders of Oklahoma to receive the Opio Toure Courageous Advocate award at OK-CADP dinner on May 17

Pennsylvania:

Opinion: All of us pay the price for underfunding public defense

Chief Defender at the Defender Association of Philadelphia, Keisha Hudson, Will Address Drexel Kline School of Law Graduates at Commencement

'Well-rounded understanding': Q&A with public defender Emily Mosco Merski in judge's race (Erie)

Texas:

Wichita County withdraws from statewide death penalty defense program

Utah:

Weber County Commission approves contract for indigent defense

Washington:

WA budget boosts public defense funding but Clark County chief defender still hoping for more

Grays Harbor County Public Defense holds spring forum

Podcasts:

Public Defenseless:

After 18 Years in Prison, How One Man is Still Fighting to Prove his Innocence w/Ivery Dorsey

With so Many Good Things Happening in Massachusetts, When Will Public Defenders Finally Get They Pay Raises they Deserve? w/Anthony Benedetti

5/7/25

If your office is accepting intern or clerkship applications, please let us know! We would like to offer more student opportunities in our jobs section. Just email [email protected] and provide a link to the posting.

Arkansas:

Retrial begins in Black public defender’s lawsuit over pay disparity

District of Columbia:

Public defender argues Jan. 6 pardons create sentencing disparity in convictions from other political protests

Georgia:

GPDC Circuit Public Defender Training in Brunswick highlights reforms, leadership growth, and innovation in public defense (partial paywall)

Hawaii:

Can’t Afford A Lawyer? Good Luck Getting Help On Neighbor Islands

Idaho:

New Idaho law restricts right to public defenders in parental rights termination

Louisiana:

Baton Rouge Public defender's office says failed DA tax impacts their office

Maine:

Maine public defense commission wants to improve confidentiality in jail communications

Hundreds of Maine lawyers gather in defense of Constitution

Mississippi:

A Mississippi man spent 940 days in jail waiting for a trial that never came

New York:

Mayor returns to Queens to unveil budget proposal

Ohio:

Trumbull County lowers cost of public defender services

Tennessee:

Tennessee federal public defender to receive TBA’s 2025 Claudia Jack Award

Texas:

Lampasas Commissioners Court OKs grants for sheriff’s office, indigent defense (partial paywall)

Virginia:

Man pleads insanity for threatening to kill Loudoun public defender

Washington:

Washington state Legislature’s budget doubles public defense funds — but counties say it’s still not enough

West Virginia:

Tucker County to Join Preston County Public Defender Corporation

Of Interest:

Onward & Upwards: 6AC Names Aditi Goel as New Executive Director and President David Carroll Steps Into Fundraising Role

JusticeText: Bringing AI audiovisual analysis to the public defender’s office

Podcasts:

Public Defenseless:

How Public Defense in Harris County Texas Evolved from a Contract System to a Holistic One w/Alex Bunin

How Flat-Fee Contracts Undermine the Right to Counsel in California w/Josh Schwartz

April 2025

4/30/25

If your office is accepting intern or clerkship applications, please let us know! We would like to offer more student opportunities in our jobs section. Just email [email protected] and provide a link to the posting.

California:

Video: Recall of Contra Costa District Attorney Begins Gathering Signatures

Illinois:

Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice to Host Listening Session on Public Defense Reform

Indiana:

Marshall County Judges ask commissioners to consider being a Public Defender County with a local board

Maine:

New Maine law would allocate $3.5 million for 5 new public defenders

Michigan:

Michigan Law Students Recognize Bromberg, Edmonds, Primus, and Walker with 2025 Teaching Awards

Oregon:

Oregon House approves bill that would declare public defense crisis, increase oversight

Judge orders public defenders to prove caseloads amid Oregon courts emergency

Oregon governor picks 2 new judges for Portland area courts

Victims left in limbo as Oregon’s public defender crisis deepens

Pennsylvania:

Maurice Byrd Shot a White Man and Claimed Self-Defense. His Acquittal of Murder Makes Him an Exception.

PA public defenders struggle with high caseloads, attorney shortage

Butler County seeks additional grant for public defender’s office (partial paywall)

Texas:

Underfunding for indigent defense in Nueces County and Texas is a moral failure | Opinion

KHOU 11 Investigates: DA’s office may have filed wrong charges in 300 cases

Wharton County may form public defender's office soon (partial paywall)

Washington:

WA adds public defender dollars but ‘nowhere near’ enough, counties say

Wisconsin:

Janine P. Geske, John T. Chisholm, and Dean A. Strang: Protecting justice for all: Why access to counsel is fundamental to the rule of law

Podcasts:

Public Defenseless:

The Tech Company Helping Public Defenders Track and Exploit Police Misconduct w/Julie Ciccolini

The ACLU Lawsuit Helping to Radically Reimagine Public Defense in Maine w/Zachary Heiden, Carol Garvan, and Eve Primus

4/23/25

If your office is accepting intern or clerkship applications, please let us know! We would like to offer more student opportunities in our jobs section. Just email [email protected] and provide a link to the posting.

Idaho:

I was one of the many public defenders in Idaho who resigned recently. Here’s why.

Illinois:

Eye On Illinois: Lawmakers pushing to bolster public defender services

Lawmakers moving forward on public defender reform

Maryland:

Longtime public defender takes oath as new Cecil County judge

Michigan:

Man gains freedom with DNA evidence, help from public defender’s office

Mississippi:

State Defender hopeful pilot program will receive funding in special session

Oregon:

Gov. Tina Kotek fires leader of Oregon Public Defense Commission

Kotek fires head of troubled Oregon public defense agency

Kotek selects new leader of Public Defense Commission to address public defender crisis

Public Defender shortage continues to plague Oregon, Douglas County

South Dakota:

Annual report from Lawrence Co. Public Defenders Office shows significantly lower costs than outside appointed attorneys

Washington:

WA is divided about our public defender crisis

International:

Jamaica Public Defender’s Office celebrates 25 years of service

Of Interest:

Rachel Rossi Joins Alliance for Justice as New President

Podcasts:

Public Defenseless:

How Participatory Defense has and can help Minnesota Public Defenders w/Damon Drake

How Prosecutors, Cops, and an ICE Agent Conspired to Kidnap a Man in the Middle of his Trial w/Murat Erkan

4/16/25

The news had been on a 3-week break due to the 2025 ABA Public Defense Summit on April 4 and 5, so this issue covers a lot of ground. For those of you who couldn’t attend the summit, the conference materials will soon be available for purchase for CLE credit. We’ll alert you when they become available.

If your office is accepting intern or clerkship applications, please let us know! We would like to offer more student opportunities in our jobs section. Just email [email protected] and provide a link to the posting.

Arizona:

Arizona Public Defender's Association Directors Converge in Pinal County's New Facility to Discuss Future of Public Defense

California:

San Benito Supervisors clash over Public Defender Oversight Committee

Opinion: In California, criminal defense is shaped by money and location

Hochman reinstates death penalty in L.A. County

Georgia:

Georgia lawmakers finally OK system to pay wrongfully convicted with Trump election case rider added

Tiger to serve as public defender (Mountain Circuit)

Idaho:

Bill to clarify public defender duties eliminates right to counsel for some facing termination of parental rights

Legislation muddies waters for some indigent parents

Iowa:

WANTED: Scott County public defenders: ‘I would probably call it a crisis.’

Louisiana:

Louisiana bill might thwart local public defenders fighting to keep their jobs

Maine:

Bill addressing critical shortage of public defenders headed to governor’s desk

Bill to expand Maine public defender office passes the Legislature

Senate Unanimously Advances Amended Version of Bill Addressing Maine’s Indigent Defense Crisis

Indigent Defense Legislation Scaled Back as Deadline Approaches for Maine Jails to Release Criminal Defendants If a Lawyer is Not Available

Judge weighs whether to release defendants before Supreme Court appeal

State commission, lawmakers declare ‘all hands on deck’ effort to address indigent defense crisis

Public Defense Commission submits plans to address case backlog

Opinion: It’s Maine’s duty to solve its years-old public defender crisis

Michigan:

Indigent juvenile defense bill reintroduced in state legislature

MSU Public Defenders Clinic takes unique approach to educating law students

Missouri:

Missouri lawmakers hold back on public defender plans for marijuana money

New Hampshire:

Ayotte crusaded against a ‘broken’ bail system. Defense lawyers say it worked just fine

New Mexico:

Public defender's suit alleges DA moving cases up courts to avoid Spanish translation

State’s Public Defender Commission Appoints Bennett J. Baur For Third Term As Chief Public Defender

New York:

Queens Defenders faces uncertain future after city cuts major contract

North Carolina:

Thomas “Bud” Woodrum Appointed as Chief Public Defender for the 6th Judicial District

Ohio:

Shortage of lawyers concerns local jurists (Lima)

Oklahoma:

Oklahoma House passes bill to eliminate unnecessary fees in criminal justice system

Historic Fees Reform Unanimously Passes House

Oregon:

Oregon public defender crisis far from over, as lawmakers consider different proposals

Marion County public defender's office prepares for the worst as judges threaten to force-appoint cases

Pennsylvania:

Public Defenders— $7.5 Million State Funds Falls Short of Staffing Needs

Allegheny County chief public defender placed on leave

Short Staffed, Ceaseless Cases; Local Public Defender Officers Struggle (Erie)

Lancaster County will pay $25,000 from reserves for outside counsel in death penalty case

Luzerne County Public Defender’s Office highlights state funding shortfall for indigent defense

ACLU of Pa. Calls for Increased Funding for Pennsylvania’s Public Defenders at Capitol Press Conference

Pennsylvania spending on public defenders is 'unjust,' say advocates in Harrisburg protest

Texas:

State-Funded Legal Defense For Illegal Immigrants Set To Cease On May 1

'You have the right to an attorney' but in parts of Texas, don’t count on It.

You Have the Right to an Attorney. In Texas, That Right Is Routinely Denied.

New public defenders get pay bump but Travis county struggles to retain experienced attorneys

Travis County public defenders demand higher pay as Counsel at First Appearance ramps up

Washington:

Washington’s Yakima County represents breaking point in state’s public defender crisis

Public Defense Union Raises Concerns About Constantine’s Pick for DPD Director (King County)

Some WA Defendants Wait Months In Jail For Public Defenders

In Memoriam:

Former 9th Circuit public defender Bob Wesley dies

Podcasts:

Public Defenseless:

When Public Defenders Support Community Organizing, Community will Organize to Support Public Defense w/Heather Lewis

How the Neglect and Indifference of the Jefferson County Jail Killed a 76 Year Old Man Suffering from Parkinson's and Dementia w/Darold Killmer and Maddie Lips

What was Revealed about the Death Penalty When a Man on Death Row Volunteered to be Executed? w/Gianna Toboni

Why did a Judge Stop a Defense Lawyer from Showing the Jury the Complaining Witness's Habit of Fabricating Evidence w/Blake Weiner

The Revival of Public Defense in Santa Cruz County California w/Heather Rogers and Caitlin Becker

Will Governor Jeff Landry's Push to Execute More People get an Innocent Man Killed? w/Piper French

March 2025

3/26/25

The 2025 ABA Public Defense Summit is next week! Consider registering for the virtual option, and get 9 CLE credits (including ethics) without having to leave your home or office. The conference is scheduled for April 4 and 5, but the materials will be available for download (with CLE credit) if you aren’t free on those dates.

If your office is accepting intern or clerkship applications, please let us know! We would like to offer more student opportunities in our jobs section. Just email [email protected] and provide a link to the posting.

Happy belated Gideon Day to all our subscribers! This issue of the news covers the last two weeks. Due to the upcoming Public Defense Summit, the news will also be off next week.

National:

Booker, Durbin, Welch Announce Reintroduction of Legislation to Improve Access to Counsel Guaranteed by Constitution

Arizona:

Pinal County Marks National Public Defense Day with an Educational Homage to Landmark Gideon v. Wainwright Decision

California:

CPE Publishes Report on Improving Outcomes for Contra Costa Public Defender Clients

New Report Calls for End to Flat-Fee Contracts for Indigent Defense in California that Are Driving Incarceration and Racial Disparities

Los Angeles district attorney wants to bring back death penalty

Prosecutor Brooke Jenkins Reshaping Incarceration Trends in San Francisco

Idaho:

Idaho Legislature’s budget committee sets budget for new state office of public defender

Illinois:

Illinois’s public defense crisis

New Chicago Prosecutor Empowers Police To File More Charges Without Review

Public defender’s suit, over displaying photo in IDF uniform, can proceed to discovery, judge rules

Louisiana:

Public defenders defend themselves against firings

Five Louisiana public defenders to be removed from positions in July

Maine:

Emergency bill to shore up public defender system lacks support from Maine civil rights advocates

Opinion: Maine must speed up transition to public defender system

What comes next after ruling determines Maine is violating people’s Constitutional rights

VIDEO: 'This is an emergency': Maine bill would allow public courts to hire private attorneys

Michigan:

Bill stalled in Michigan Congress would support indigent juveniles in court

Minnesota:

Former Hennepin County Chief Public Defender Kassius Benson suspended by Minnesota Supreme Court

Missouri:

VIDEO: Hannibal public defender's office to relocate, enhancing proximity to courthouse

Nevada:

Update: Douglas County approves taking legal defense program in-house

New Jersey:

State police settle lawsuit over yearslong delays in processing expungement orders

N.J. plan to make it harder to see people’s criminal records rejected by Murphy

New York:

Queens Defenders staff unionizes following controversial director’s ouster

North Carolina:

Josh Stein appoints public defender as Gaston County district judge

Ohio:

Shortage of attorneys leaves some without help

Ohio Bar warns of legal service crisis

County Commissioner and CCAO President David Painter testifies to House Finance on CCAO budget priorities

Oregon:

Lawmakers consider bills to address ongoing Oregon public defender crisis

Public defenders: Invest in real solutions, not half-measures (Opinion)

District attorneys: A framework to put public defense back on track (Opinion)

Oregon is in the midst of an ‘unrepresented crisis’ of public defender shortage, but why?

Pennsylvania:

Audit: Allegheny County public defenders overwhelmed with caseloads

Texas:

'Atrocious' Rural TX Courts Leave People Jailed With No Lawyers

The Crossroads Regional Public Defenders office mission focuses on providing equal protection under the law

Washington:

Washington among the bottom of states in public defense funding

Wisconsin:

Shredding of legal mail by Wisconsin prisons worries advocates

Of Interest:

How to Fight the Mass Deportation Agenda

Podcasts:

Public Defenseless:

How Does Silicon Valley De-Bug San Mateo Hope to Improve Public Defense and the Criminal Legal System w/Ana Ramirez Zarate and Lourdes Best

How Trump is Using the Alien Enemies Act to Destroy Due Process Protections w/Nayna Gupta

Did One Woman Coerce her Foster Kids into Wrongfully Accusing their Family of Sexual Abuse? w/Amy Parker

The Amendment to Louisiana's Constitution that is Trying to Make it Easier to Send Kids to Angola Prison w/Kristen Rome

3/12/25

The 2025 ABA Public Defense Summit is coming on April 4 and 5! There’s still plenty of time to register. We hope to see you there, in person or virtually. Connect with other public defenders, knock out most of your CLE requirements, and learn about some of the major issues in public defense from top experts.

Last week’s newsletter went out on Friday, and public defense-related news has been light lately, so this is a short one. But look for an important court ruling out of Maine.

Alabama:

60 years after Bloody Sunday in Alabama, elusive racial progress in Selma

California:

California’s Effort to Reduce, Overturn Unjust Prison Sentences

San Francisco Public Defenders Win Landmark Racial Justice Act Case

Louisiana:

Five Louisiana public defenders to be removed from positions in July

Maine:

Kennebec County Superior Court rules Maine is violating Sixth Amendment

Maine must release people from jail, drop charges if no lawyer available, justice rules

Penobscot County public defenders receiving pressure to take on more cases

Oregon:

Editorial: Budget plan for public defense crisis will help, not solve

VIDEO: Pressure mounts for Oregon to course-correct on plans to reform public defense system

West Virginia:

Mingo County Commission recognizes public defenders; gives funds to hospital

Podcasts:

Public Defenseless:

How the San Mateo Private Defender Program is Trying to Earn Back the Community's Trust w/Lisa Maguire and Harpreet Samra

How Sec Def Austin Interfered with the 9/11 and U.S.S. Cole Case Plea Deals w/Allison Miller and Katie Carmon

3/7/25

The 2025 ABA Public Defense Summit is a month away! We hope to see you there, in person or virtually. Connect with other public defenders, knock out most of your CLE requirements, and learn about some of the major issues in public defense from top experts.

California:

Justice and Public Safety Forum Provides New Insights Into Shasta County Challenges

Low salaries, staffing woes, 'crushing' workloads: public safety trouble in Shasta County

Connecticut:

Derby public defender withdraws from consideration for Superior Court bench, officials say

Iowa:

Overworked and underpaid: the indigent defense shortage in Iowa persists

Louisiana:

5 chief public defenders told they will lose jobs following Landry board takeover

Maine:

Opinion: How to really tackle Maine’s indigent defense crisis

Mississippi:

Proposed public defender pilot program aims to better represent indigent defendants in Mississippi

Senate reduces indigent counsel fee increases proposed by House

Nevada:

Bill requires judicial candidates have trial experience, seeks end to secrecy of judicial discipline

New Jersey:

New Jersey Office of the Public Defender Unveils Collaborative, Holistic Representation Model to Address the Complex Needs of Individuals in the Criminal Legal System

Ohio:

Putnam commissioners discuss possibility of initiating public defender option

Oregon:

Oregon lawmakers scramble for solutions to public defender crisis

Marion County judge warns she may start forcing public defenders to take more cases

Of Interest:

Public Defense: Partners for Justice Hopes to Change the Field With Young Advocates Who Stand Up for Their Clients

Podcasts:

Public Defenseless:

Was a Former Colorado Public Defender Fired for Raising Concerns over his Workload? w/Travis Weiner

How The American Eugenics Movement Helped Create Habitual Offender Laws w/Daniel Loehr

February 2025

2/28/25

The time to lock in your early bird rate for ABA Public Defense Summit ends on Monday, March 3! Note that virtual attendance is also an option for those who can’t make the trip to Chicago. Many speakers have been announced. Take a look at the speaker page on the above registration link.

Alabama:

Speedy Trial Act bill introduced in Senate

California:

Public defender says Alameda court strike led to rights violations

Judge admonished for 'undignified' behavior, including gestures mimicking pumping of breast milk

Louisiana:

A former criminal judge known as a public defense advocate is running for New Orleans mayor

Maine:

Prosecutors say it’s not just public defense agencies that are struggling to hire over low pay

Maine’s top judge questions why Janet Mills hasn’t filled open judicial seat

Maine owes it to citizens to properly resource judicial branch, chief justice says

Michigan:

Eve Primus Delivers “Blue Jeans” Lecture on Fighting for Systemic Change

Mississippi:

Indigent counsel fees could soon be increased in Mississippi

Missouri:

Public defender’s office draws outrage from Missouri GOP leaders over hiring convicted felon

Missouri public defender fires convicted felon to move budget forward

New York:

Constantia man’s case delayed again due to lack of lawyer

Nebraska:

Fye named Seward County public defender

North Carolina:

Chief public defenders tapped for two districts

North Dakota:

North Dakota House Passes Bill To Expand Marijuana Decriminalization, Making Low-Level Possession A $150 Citation

Oregon:

Oregon’s latest plan to reduce public defense crisis makes it worse, analysis says (partial paywall)

Lawmaker loses confidence in public defense leader, calls for National Guard response

Oregon’s chief justice tells judges to stay out of public defense politics as she fights for pay raises

Pennsylvania:

Editorial: O'Connor audit shows, once again, that indigent defense is floundering in Allegheny County

South Dakota:

Brown County hires first chief public defender to head new office (partial paywall)

Pilot program will allow new lawyers to swap public service for South Dakota bar exam

Texas:

A shortage of criminal defense attorneys threatens indigent right to counsel in rural Texas

Washington:

Okanogan County’s new Office of Public Defender begins to take shape

Mountlake Terrace City council passes public defender agreement, 5-1

Of Interest:

Legal Agitator of Our Time (Book Review)

Podcasts:

Public Defenseless:

The Coalition Fighting to Save New York's Discovery Laws w/Amanda Jack and Kalle Condliffe

How the Far West Texas Public Defenders Uncovered a Pattern of Discovery Violations in El Paso w/James McDermott and Paul Chambers

2/19/25

Registration for the ABA Public Defense Summit is now live! Register by March 3 to lock in your early bird rate, and note that there is a 20 percent discount for group registrations. For those who attend in person, this will be a great way to connect with public defense professionals from around the country in a time of new challenges. Virtual attendance is also an option for those who can’t make the trip to Chicago.

As we typically see when during periods of time where are a lot of major ongoing national news stories, this is a light week for public defense news. We expect this trend will continue until the chaos relents. 

National:

Trump: Ex-Death Row Inmates To Live In 'Monstrous' Conditions

California:

I’m 1 of More Than 600 People on CA’s Death Row. Newsom Must End Death Penalty.

Florida:

FACDL and Florida Justice Center unveil clothing closet to aid indigent clients

Maine:

Douglas Rooks: More money is not the answer for Maine’s indigent defense cases

Michigan:

Frustrations continue for attorneys billing Wayne County Indigent Defense Services Department

Mississippi:

Search Mississippi Criminal Justice Bills as They Move Through the Legislature

Missouri:

Public defender’s office draws outrage from Missouri GOP leaders over hiring convicted felon

New Jersey:

Human rights group protests inequities in children getting tried as adults

New York:

Fully funding NYC public transit could reduce fare evasion, crime

Questions linger about public defender's office moves (Niagara County)

Oklahoma:

Stitt Calls for $1.4B Reduction in Budget

North Dakota:

Bill Would Reduce Penalties For Small Amounts of Marijuana in North Dakota

Ohio:

Monroe County commissioners freeze payments, appointments for lawyer who invoiced for $600,000

Richland County may create public defender's office

Oregon:

Deschutes County DA, judge say public defender shortage solved locally, urge state changes

Pennsylvania:

Opinion: Investing in public defenders is essential for justice to be served

Allegheny County public defense system needs major investments, says O'Connor audit

Wisconsin:

State Bar of Wisconsin: Presidents’ comments on funding for civil legal aid and criminal justice funding in Governor’s budget

Podcasts:

Public Defenseless:

How the Laken Riley Act Could Get Innocent People Sent to Guantanamo Bay w/Ann Block and Nithya Nathan-Pineau

Prosecutorial Reform and the Myth of Individualized Enforcement w/Justin Murray

The Fight to Reform Oklahoma's Failure to Protect Laws w/Alexandra Bailey and Cindy Nguyen

2/12/25

Registration for the ABA Public Defense Summit is now live! Register by March 3 to lock in your early bird rate, and note that there is a 20 percent discount for group registrations. For those who attend in person, this will be a great way to connect with public defense professionals from around the country in a time of new challenges. Virtual attendance is also an option for those who can’t make the trip to Chicago.

Arizona:

Pinal County public defender's office staff recognized

California:

South Bay’s longest-serving public defender reflects on tenure as office looks ahead

Connecticut:

Lamont proposes criminal justice cuts: free messages for CT inmates, public defender access at stake

Georgia:

Coweta attorney Brian Lewis appointed to Public Defender Supervisory Panel

Indiana:

Hancock County weighs cost of public defender’s office

Kansas:

A shortage of public defense attorneys in Kansas could result in courts throwing out criminal cases

Kentucky:

KY lawmakers propose alternatives to incarceration for primary caregivers

New Jersey:

N.J. governor’s big plan to overhaul parole system and give second chances

New Mexico:

House Judiciary approves two public safety bills over the weekend

Oklahoma:

Stitt Calls for $1.4B Reduction in Budget

Ohio:

Commissioners discuss zoning fees, public defenders

Oregon:

Pragmatic Prosecutors: Multnomah County district attorney breaks with predecessor, says all crimes will be charged

Is there a public defender shortage in Oregon, or is there a 'work stoppage' as the Multnomah County DA claims?

DAs to lawmakers: Accused child rapist, killers, drug traffickers released from jail as cases stall with no public defenders

Pennsylvania:

Opinion: Investing in public defenders is essential for justice to be served

Public Defender Shortage in PA Sparks Hiring Push

Vermont:

Maggie Chavez: Lack of public defense resources necessitates a deeper exploration of restorative Justice

International:

Liberia: Same Faces Every Court Term, Public Defender Decry of Recycle Jurors

Podcasts:

Public Defenseless:

How Cuyahoga County Jail Keeps Prisoners from their Family and Records their Conversations w/Nikki Baszynski

Should we Have Universal Public Defense w/Alexis Hoag-Fordjour

2/5/25

Registration for the ABA Public Defense Summit is now live! Join us on April 4 and 5, in person or virtually, at Chicago’s Northwestern University School of Law for a discussion of important and emerging issues in public defense while earning 9 hours of CLE credit (including 1.5 ethics).  Speakers will be announced soon. Take advantage of the early bird deadline to lock in a preferred rate before March 3!

California:

Yuba County celebrates first graduate of new Behavioral Health Court

Georgia:

Fulton County courts clear 93 percent of case backlog

Judge to seat jury in trial of ex-prosecutor accused of shielding Ahmaud Arbery’s killers

Idaho:

Idaho's public defense system asks lawmakers for dozens of new attorneys

Idaho public defender’s proposed budget seeks increases to address defense in rural counties

New public defense office fields JFAC questions

Illinois:

Champaign County Public Defender’s Office is facing a funding crisis after tax referendum fails

Maine:

Lawmaker hopes to alleviate attorney backlog by changing how Maine punishes bail violations

‘There is no increased risk to the public’: Maine Democrat Wants to Repeal the Crime of Violating Bail to Reduce Case Backlog

Gov. Mills doubles down on urging Maine’s public defense agency to relax rules

Public defense attorney says other agencies need to help fix Maine's legal backlog

ABA Journal: Should defendants without court-appointed lawyers be released? Should charges be dropped? Judge weighs remedies

Maine struggles with public defender crisis as costs soar and backlog increases

Massachusetts:

Letter: Access to justice means confronting bar advocate burnout

Minnesota:

Minnesota courts on notice as Laken Riley Act, targeted ICE enforcements go into effect

New York:

Queens Defenders' board forces out controversial executive director

Queens Defenders gets new interim executive director amid leadership shakeup

Legal costs for public defender's office probe topped $20,000 (Niagara Co.)

Ohio:

FULTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS: Recent Indigent Defense Contract Approved

Summit Legal Defenders office expands services, changes locations

Oregon:

Oregon’s public defense crisis: Why thousands go without lawyers, jeopardizing cases

Opinion: Move past rhetoric to find real solutions to public defender crisis

Editorial: Oregon's public defense crisis is predicted to get worse

Pennsylvania:

Public defender shortage in PA sparks hiring push

Lebanon County DA faces backlash as NAACP condemns explosive remarks

Texas:

Texas Fair Defense Fund helps people get legal aid. Migrants are primary recipients: chief.

High Plains Regional Public Defender's Office makes progress with hires, Hale County office location

Vermont:

Where have all the public defenders gone?

Washington:

WA counties want big money to address public defender crisis

Pierce County Council sets legislative priorities

Rep. Debra Entenman’s Conversation With Larry Jefferson, Director Of The Office Of Public Defense

Wyoming:

Wyoming lawyers step up amid public defender shortage

Of Interest:

Paying for the Right to Counsel: National Survey Findings on the Practice of Charging Public Defense Fees to Clients

11 ABA advocacy wins from the 118th Congress

Podcasts:

Public Defenseless:

How One Inconsistent Eye Witness Led to the Wrongful Conviction of Ivery Dorsey w/Kerrie Liang

The Impact of and the Resistance to Mass Deportation Policies w/Hans Meyer and Holly Lucas

Is Kansas Public Defense on the Verge of a Crisis? w/Heather Cessna

The Fight to End Youth Shackling and Limit Mass Surveillance in Virginia w/Rob Poggenklass and Bryan Kennedy

January 2025

1/27/25

Registration for the ABA Public Defense Summit is now live! Join us on April 4 and 5 at Chicago’s Northwestern University School of Law for a discussion of important and emerging issues in public defense. This is a hybrid conference, so you can register for the virtual option if you can’t make the trip. Speakers will be announced soon.

It’s a rare Monday newsletter! We hope to be back to the usual Wednesday schedule next week.

California:

LA County’s innovative effort to address public defender conflicts wins plaudits (partial paywall)

Florida:

For the first time in decades, Hillsborough County has a new public defender

'Giant shoes to fill': Daniel Eisinger sworn in as Palm Beach County's new public defender

Georgia:

Troup approves contract with new public defender

Indiana:

Steuben County keeps plugging away at public defender expansion

Public defender implores county council for staff raises (Hancock Co.)

Iowa:

Iowa’s chief justice asks lawmakers for magistrate system changes, judicial pay increases

Louisiana:

Professor Katherine Mattes, key player in Louisiana criminal justice reform, to retire

Maine:

District public defenders: Keeping our promises under the 6th Amendment

ACLU, state conclude arguments in indigent defense trial

Indigent defense trial continues in Augusta

What you need to know about the lawsuit over Maine's public defense system

Indigent defense lawsuit underway in Kennebec County

ACLU says lack of public defense lawyers in Maine erodes trust in courts

Experts talk indigent defense in January ‘radio hour’

Maine public defense agency urges state to fully fund its work

ACLU Asks Maine To Free Jail Inmates Until Counsel Is Available

Maryland:

Public defender, advocates push for Maryland to end automatic charging of youths as adults

Nevada:

New Nevada State Public Defender appointed

New York:

Gov leaves out atty student loan relief from budget

Love it or hate it, New York’s hotly debated bail reform law just turned 5

Public defenders argue their own case (Rochester)

Bronx Defenders form alliance to protect New York evidence sharing requirements

North Dakota:

Port: Indigent defense in North Dakota 'perilously close to a constitutional failure'

Oregon:

Multnomah County public defenders push back against new DA’s comments

Opinion: DA Vasquez is right. The public defense ‘crisis’ is a work stoppage

Pennsylvania:

Frequently Asked Questions About ACLU-PA's Indigent Defense Lawsuit

South Carolina:

Beaufort issues RFP for Indigent legal defense service

South Dakota:

Chief justice says SD would benefit from expanding its new criminal public defense office

Texas:

Rural Texas needs more public defenders. A state commission wants nearly $44M to help

New updates on public defender's office during commissioners court (Victoria)

Virginia:

Bill would expand access to Virginia public defenders, increase prosecutors’ workload

Washington:

Fulmer is concerned about indigent defense costs

Wisconsin:

Lawsuit remains, as Wisconsin public defender shortage persists

Wyoming:

Wyoming Prosecutors Say Widespread Lawyer Shortage Hurting Them Too

Of Interest:

Federal Public Defender Submits Brief with Nonexistent Citation, Apparently Refuses to Admit This to the Judge at a Hearing

Accessing public defender laptop to send ‘prank’ email costs Jefferson County APA his law license

Report: Public Defense Fees Can Make Justice Unaffordable

International:

Liberia: Public Defense Lawyers Get New Leadership, Pledges Transformation and Accountability

Podcasts:

Public Defenseless:

How to Fight and Abolish the Death Penalty Outside of the Courtroom w/Abraham Bonowitz

How Pueblo Municipal Court Used Contempt of Court to Send People to Jail for Years w/Keri Williams

The Everyday Cruelty in Westminster Municipal Court w/Alison Gordon

The Impact of and the Resistance to Mass Deportation Policies w/Hans Meyer and Holly Lucas

How Virginia Prison Officials Lied About Red Onion Prisoner Lighting Themselves on Fire w/Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg

Carceral Apartheid: How Lies and White Supremacists Run Our Prisons w/Brittany Friedman

How a Petty Theft Could get you 180 Days in Jail in Rifle Municipal Court w/Scott Troxell

1/10/25

Save the date! The 2025 ABA Public Defense Summit will be held at Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago on April 4 and 5. This will be our first hybrid summit, with both in-person and live virtual attendance options. Registration will open in the New Year, but in the meantime, please sign up to receive an update when registration becomes available. Full course details will be announced in the coming week.

Welcome to 2025! This newsletter goes all the way back to December 19, so let’s get into it.

National:

Biden gives life in prison to 37 of 40 federal death row inmates before Trump can resume executions

Arkansas:

Report on Arkansas' public defender system finds understaffing, overwork

California:

Supervisors approve new office space for Public Defender’s Office over concerns about cost, park proximity (Lake County)

Florida:

Public defender’s motion to remove judge over texts with Miami-Dade State Attorney denied

Idaho:

ACLU files emergency motion against new public defense system

‘Headed for a disaster:’ ACLU asks Idaho Supreme Court to order public defense system reform

Idaho governor recommends $88 million for State Public Defender FY 2026 budget

Kootenai County cases stall as public defender shortage takes hold

Iowa:

State suspends Washington-based attorney’s license, Justices use case to highlight severe shortage of juvenile public defenders

Maine:

Judge finds Maine public defender program isn’t meeting constitutional obligations

The list of Maine parents waiting for a lawyer grew by 700 percent in 2024 — and it may not account for the whole problem

Experts talk indigent defense in January ‘radio hour’

Missouri:

Lawmakers calling for David Spears termination from public defender’s office

New York:

New Joint Bar Task Force To Tackle Indigent Defense In NYC

North Carolina:

Roy Cooper’s commutations should signal the death penalty’s end in North Carolina

Ohio:

Commissioners approve pact with new group of public defenders (Columbiana)

Pennsylvania:

PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency Delivers More Than $600 Million in Grant Funding Under Shapiro-Davis Administration

Kelly Jurs, veteran Chester County public defender, announces run for judge

McKean County Salary Board approves indigent defense grant payments amid controversy over bonuses and pay disparities

McKean County's bonus controversy, DA criticizes bonuses and pay disparities amid tax hikes

Luzerne County Public Defender’s Office leadership history

Tennessee:

Tennessee revises lethal injection policy nearly three years after last execution was halted

Texas:

High Plains Regional Public Defender's Office to set up at Hale County Courthouse

Washington:

Okanogan County will bring public defenders in-house

West Virginia:

West Virginia Public Defender Services claims lawyer shortage is a statewide problem

Wyoming:

The ‘ticking time bomb’ facing Wyoming’s public defenders and their clients

Podcasts:

Public Defenseless:

How People Are Denied the Right to Counsel in Grand Junction Municipal Court w/Tristan Gorman and Rebecca Wallace

The Policies Making Colorado More "Tough on Crime" w/Tristan Gorman and Rebecca Wallace

BONUS: Discussion/Debate w/a Former Cop about The Killing of Roger Fortson, The Execution of Marcellus Williams and The Citation of a Homeless Pregnant Woman in KY

How Marsy's Law is Undermining the Criminal Legal System w/Ráchael Powers

How to Create More Opportunities to Fight the Government's Case Pre-Trial w/Chesa Boudin and Eric Fish