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Public defender warns cuts will force layoffs, risk constitutional right to counsel
Summary
The Office of Public Defender told the Metro Council proposed cuts would eliminate investigators and social workers and could force the office to stop staffing conflict cases or leave courtrooms unstaffed, with the office warning such moves would invite constitutional‑right litigation.
An unnamed representative of the Office of Public Defender told the Metro Council that the office is chronically underfunded and that the mayor’s proposed budget would cut local support substantially (the presenter said the office’s proposed local funding was $1,000,337.50 including Entergy funds but the proposed budget reflected less, describing a reduction of roughly $482,370 or about 38%).
The public defender outlined the office’s three funding streams: the District Assistance Fund (DAF) from the state legislature (their largest source),…
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