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Appellate public defender outlines caseload, seeks deputy attorney to curb outside contracting costs
Summary
State Appellate Public Defender staff told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee the office is fully staffed now but has seen a caseload spike since the pandemic. The office requested authorization for an additional deputy appellate public defender, saying hiring would be cheaper than continued contracting for overflow cases.
Christopher Lahoset, a budget analyst with the Legislative Services Office, told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee that the Office of the State Appellate Public Defender has 26 authorized full-time positions and reported no vacancies as of Dec. 15 in the current fiscal year. The office’s five‑year average personnel appropriation is “just under $2,800,000,” Lahoset said, and roughly 95% of the agency’s personnel appropriation has been used for personnel costs.
Eric Leighton, director of the Appellate Public Defender, said the office has faced turnover while also absorbing a…
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