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Courts seek added funding as Public Defender warns of staffing shortfall; supervisors reallocate conflict counsel savings
Summary
Superior Court asked for a $3.5M increase for conflict counsel as appointments surged; Public Defender said redirecting trial‑court funds would prevent declarations of unavailability. Committee voted to accept analyst recommendations and reallocate certain reductions to the Public Defender to reduce conflicts risk.
The Superior Court and the Public Defender told the Budget and Finance Committee on June 24 that funding for indigent defense and private conflict counsel has risen with caseloads. Michael Yew, CFO for the Superior Court, said appointments to the conflicts panel are projected to rise to about 8,800 cases and requested an additional $3.5 million to cover the panel’s current and anticipated obligations.
The court warned that many appointments made in the current fiscal year will generate bills in the next fiscal year and that redirecting funds among agencies alters who will carry costs…
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