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Public defenders press for multi‑year hiring plan as caseload shortfall exceeds 40 attorney equivalents
Summary
The Office of Public Defender told the appropriations subcommittee it is roughly 42 FTEs short of timely assignment capacity, proposed an eight‑per‑year, five‑year hiring plan and urged higher contract rates; the subcommittee funded a modest multi‑year increase and authorized higher contract rates but stopped short of the full request.
The Office of the State Public Defender (OPD) told the Section D subcommittee it is operating with a substantial shortfall in attorney capacity and proposed a five‑year plan to close the gap. Director Sabri Shandelson (recorded as "Shandelson" in the hearing) said OPD’s most recent internal data show the office is short roughly 42 full‑time‑equivalent attorneys in order to meet its internal assignment timeliness target; the agency proposed adding eight FTEs per year for five years to close that gap.
Why it matters: OPD is statutorily required to provide counsel in many case types and frequently must assign defenders statewide; director Shandelson said appointment delays had produced an effective shortfall of about 42 attorney equivalents. The…
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