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Public Defender and MAC unveil plans to expand public defense; court backs 50% target
Summary
The county’s Public Defender Office presented a strategic plan to scale its representation to at least 50% of indigent defense appointments by 2031; the Office of Managed Assigned Counsel detailed complementary goals. Commissioners unanimously endorsed the 50% target and asked for annual updates.
Chief Public Defender Jess Draper presented a 3–5 year strategic plan that lays out hiring scenarios and pilots to expand the office’s case share toward a 50% target by 2031. Draper said the office currently handles 100% of bail hearings, about 49% of juvenile cases and roughly 15% of felony appointments; misdemeanor representation rose from 16% last year to 32% this year.
Draper described conservative and aggressive scenarios and requested FY‑27 budget support to hire lateral felony attorneys and post‑bar fellows. "This plan is aggressive," Draper said, and added that a five‑year time horizon is the more realistic path to 50% given hiring and case‑filing variability. Commissioners voted unanimously to endorse the target and asked the Public Defender Office and the Office of Managed Assigned Counsel (MAC) to provide annual strategic updates each Aug. 15 through 2031.
MAC Director Portia Brown presented a five‑year plan to reduce dependence on high‑cost court‑appointed counsel, improve training, expand holistic services and strengthen voucher review and appointment systems. MAC reported recent efficiency gains in misdemeanor courts and said investments such as assignment specialists and resource attorneys would improve case‑turnover and reduce average cost per case.
