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Office of Public Defender says it needs dozens more attorneys; lawmakers approve partial increase, propose study
Summary
The Office of State Public Defender told Subcommittee D it faces a shortfall equivalent to roughly 42 full‑time attorneys; the subcommittee approved a phased increase but not the full five‑year plan and directed a study of overall legal staffing and contract rates.
Brad Chandelson, director of the Office of the State Public Defender (OPD), told the House Appropriations Subcommittee D that the office is operating with a persistent shortfall in attorney capacity. Chandelson said the gap amounts to “nearly 42 FTE attorneys worth of work,” meaning cases were being assigned but OPD could not staff them within its target timelines.
OPD presented a five‑year plan that would add 8 FTE attorneys per year to close the…
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