With fewer public defenders, indigent defendants pay the price

The briefing

Across the United States, a severe shortage of public defenders is leaving indigent defendants without legal representation for weeks or months while they sit in jail. Jurisdictions from Texas to Oregon and Pennsylvania are struggling to retain attorneys as caseloads soar and experienced public defenders burn out or leave for better-paying jobs. The crisis has sparked legal challenges, contempt citations for judges, and widespread concerns over constitutional violations.