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Public defender asks for three felony attorneys and increased resources, cites cost savings and tech gap
Summary
Public defender leaders told commissioners that three additional felony‑division attorneys would reduce outside assigned‑counsel costs, improve outcomes, and support defense against growing law‑enforcement technology; they estimated net county cost would be small after state reimbursement.
Angela Chang, director of the youth defense division, and public defender staff presented the office’s 2026 budget request on Dec. 2 and asked the commission to fund three full‑time felony attorneys, additional office space and continued training.
Chang framed the request around access to counsel and public safety, invoking Gideon: “fundamental and essential,” she said of effective public defense in the current legal environment. The office described a holistic defense…
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