WA Supreme Court considers cutting public defender caseloads

Would slashing public defender caseloads in Washington better ensure people accused of crimes, but unable to afford a lawyer, receive counsel as they are constitutionally guaranteed?

The state Supreme Court is considering a request to reduce the number of cases public defense attorneys handle each year by up to two-thirds, and is seeking the public’s opinion on whether it is a good idea.

Justices will hold a hearing next month on changes sought by the Washington State Bar Association and its Council on Public Defense to deal with persistent challenges imperiling the ability to provide timely and effective representation for indigent defendants statewide.

“Public defense in Washington is facing a crisis of attrition and an inability to recruit staff brought about by excessive workloads and poor compensation,” bar association members wrote in the summary of the requested amendments to the Court’s Standards for Indigent Defense Services.

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/07/17/wa-supreme-court-considers-cutting-public-defender-caseloads/