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Neighborhood Defender Service strike ends; court hears concerns about continuity of indigent defense
Summary
A brief strike by unionized attorneys at Neighborhood Defender Service ended after negotiations and a new three‑year contract that includes a no‑strike clause. Local judges and the district attorney told commissioners the county must avoid future representation gaps because of ethical and public‑safety implications.
Commissioners heard detailed testimony about a week‑long labor action by attorneys at Neighborhood Defender Service (NDS), the county’s indigent‑defense provider. Minu Walters, NDS managing director, said the strike lasted seven working days, that supervisors covered court and jail visits and that supervisors managed to meet the organization’s July caseload obligations during the work stoppage.
Local judges and prosecutors said the episode was concerning. Local administrative judge Sherry Tibby told the court she was "completely blindsided" by the walkout and warned that a continued stoppage would have created a severe crisis in representation for jailed defendants; she said the bar rules on neglect of client matters create particular obligations for counsel. NDS said negotiations produced a new three‑year contract with a no‑strike provision for that period and a healthcare‑cost trigger changed from 10% to 20%—a key priority for the staff who negotiated.
Commissioners asked for better advance notice of labor disruptions and for clear contingency planning. The DA’s office and local judges said they will press for early communication if future labor disputes arise and noted that lawyers have professional obligations that complicate strike activity. The court recessed to executive session for further legal consultation on related items.
