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Lynnwood council hears public-defense staffing concerns, meets new court commissioner
Summary
City contractors and the presiding judge told council members that rising case complexity and proposed state caseload standards could require more public defenders, investigators and support staff; the council also introduced newly hired court commissioner Robert Grant.
Patrick Feldman, supervisor for Feldman Lee, the private firm contracted to provide indigent defense for the City of Lynnwood, told the City Council at a May 19 work session that proposed statewide caseload limits and more time-consuming discovery will raise the city’s public-defense staffing needs.
The briefing outlined why Feldman Lee is seeking a short contract extension to Dec. 31 and urged the council to expect to revisit staffing and contract terms when the Washington Supreme Court and other state bodies finalize new caseload standards, Feldman said.
Why it matters: Feldman told council members that long-standing national and state legal requirements — including the Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and Article I, Section 22 of the Washington Constitution — guarantee an accused person the right to competent counsel. He said changes in case counting, heavier evidence (body-worn camera footage), and anticipated new state standards will require more attorneys and support staff if they take effect.
Feldman described the background and mechanics of how public defense is provided in Lynnwood Municipal…
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