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Durham public defender urges more staff, workspace and revival of family drug‑treatment court
Summary
Chief Public Defender described staffing, caseloads, storage and space shortfalls; said family drug treatment court previously improved family reunification timelines and recommended exploring restoration; commissioners asked for cost and timeline data.
Chief Public Defender Don Vaxon updated the Durham County Board of Commissioners on the public defender office’s staffing, caseloads and facility needs, saying the office is operating with fewer locally funded attorneys and limited workspace while handling thousands of cases annually.
Vaxon said the office was created in 1990 and now operates with two senior assistants, 22 assistant public defenders funded by the state, and two assistant public defenders funded by the county (24 assistant public defenders in total). He described support staffing that includes six legal assistants, two investigators, one interpreter and one social worker assigned to abuse, neglect and dependency matters. The office also provides attorneys for first appearance, juvenile and involuntary‑commitment hearings and partners with…
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