Federal public defenders warn budget cuts may threaten ability to represent clients
Federal public defenders face a looming budget crisis that threatens their ability to represent indigent people accused of crimes.
public defender
Orange County Sheriff's Department Kept Evidence Scandal A Secret For Nearly 2 Years
Assistant Public Defender Scott Sanders suggested that prosecutors covered for law enforcement, helping to keep systematic mishandling of evidence out of public view. "The implications are massive."
In Chicago, Female Public Defenders Want Men In Lockup To Keep It In Their Pants
The Cook County public defender wants authorities to find a way to stop men in custody from exposing themselves to female attorneys. "It's disgusting, it's awful and my lawyers are being assaulted."
Public Defenders Hard To Come By In Louisiana
A new lawsuit in Louisiana challenges the state's public defense system as unconstitutional. Indigent people there arrested for serious crimes are put on waiting lists to see a public defender.
La. Governor Sued Over State's Alleged Failure To Provide Lawyers To Poor Defendants
A lawsuit filed Monday describes defendants waiting months in jail before meeting a lawyer, and some defendants who don't get a lawyer at all. Similar suits are underway in at least six other states.
Bombing Suspect Pleads Not Guilty To Attempted Murder And Weapons Charges
Ahmad Khan Rahimi, accused of bombings in New York and New Jersey, entered his pleas in a New Jersey state court. He has not made any court appearances in connection with separate federal charges.