Bar seeks indigent defense money; Tenn. petititon cites inadequate lawyer pay, overworked defenders

Article Abstract:

Several top Tennessee attorneys are suing the state for inadequate representation of criminal defendants. The suit alleges private attorneys are seldom appointed for indigent defense, even though public defenders are underfunded and overloaded with work. The lawyers recommend changes including an increase in the fees paid court-appointed counsel, a limit on the number of cases assigned to individual public defenders, and the requirement of special qualifications for lawyers handling death penalty cases.

Finance, Public defenders, Legal assistance to the poor

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Fees for pleas called improper; prosecutor's deal with unpaid defense lawyers spurs Georgia ethics opinion

Article Abstract:

A Georgia Bar ethics committee has ruled unethical a plea bargain waiving defense legal fees in return for a prosecution pledge to seek life in prison rather than the death penalty. The prosecutors were specifically faulted for including legal fees in a plea bargain. Other ethics experts agreed, alluding to such a plea bargain's artificial creation of an attorney-client conflict and consequent chilling of the defendant's right to counsel.

Analysis, Plea bargaining, Conflict of interests (Attorneys), Conflicts of interest (Lawyers)

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Commissioners jailed over fees; when counties won't pay for indigent defense, lawyers turn to courts

Article Abstract:

Court-appointed attorneys are finding some jurisdictions reluctant to pay for defense of indigents. Five Lincoln County, GA, commissioners were jailed for refusing to pay attorney Jim Plunkett for his work in a death-penalty appeal case. The commissioners feel the state should pay Plunkett's fees for the appeals since a state appeals court ordered a new trial.

Economic aspects, Compensation and benefits, Court-appointed counsel, Court appointed counsel, Masters and commissioners

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