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Oakland County seeks $21.7 million from Michigan Indigent Defense Commission to fund public defense services
Summary
County Indigent Defense Services presented an FY2026 grant application to the finance committee requesting roughly $21.7 million from the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission; commissioners asked about juvenile representation, staffing, arraignments and long‑term outcomes before approving submission.
Pete Menna, manager of the Indigent Defense Services office, told the Finance Committee that Oakland County’s annual application to the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) effectively serves as the department’s budget because “we are almost completely state grant funded.”
Menna said the FY2026 application requests approximately $21,700,000 in MIDC grant funding and that Oakland County must contribute a local share “that always hovers around that 1,800,000.0 mark.” He described the county’s hybrid model of representation: an in‑house public defender’s office plus independent contractor attorneys paid hourly.
The department’s public defender, Paulette Lofton, was present; Menna said the public defender’s office would have 26 employees in the next grant year (including non‑attorney support), and that, if the grant is approved, the internal office would include 17 lawyers. Menna said the office hopes to reach a 20/80 (in‑house/contractor) split “and we think that Paulette will have enough lawyers in her office to be able to take 20% of our total case load.”
Commissioners pressed on operational details. Commissioner Long asked whether juveniles already receive appointed attorneys; Menna replied they do and noted a pending legislative bill that could change which agency handles juvenile delinquency representation. Commissioner Cavell asked whether state general‑fund appropriations back MIDC funding; Menna said the money flows through the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and MIDC and that the county does not expect federal funding to affect the MIDC grant this year.
Menna highlighted daily arraignment coverage as a major MIDC standard benefit: he said the county now staffs seven daily arraignment attorneys across courts, which “is really critical” because having counsel at first appearance reduces unnecessary detention. He urged the committee that the MIDC application supports constitutionally required representation for those who cannot afford counsel and noted that MIDC standard 5 required moving attorney appointment functions outside the judiciary and creating the county office that now reports to the county executive.
The committee approved the motion to submit the MIDC grant application. Menna said MIDC usually finalizes awards after an April submission and the commission’s next meeting in June.
Closing notes: Menna said quarterly financial and appointment reports are submitted to MIDC and that the MIDC may audit the county’s files. He also said transcript fees (court reporter fees) are rising by statute and will increase a significant line item in the budget.
