http://mtcrimlaw.com/2007/12/23/judge-rejects-new-public-defender-law/ A Montana criminal defense blog. Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:07:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 http://mtcrimlaw.com/2007/12/23/judge-rejects-new-public-defender-law/comment-page-1/#comment-58177 tc Mon, 24 Dec 2007 15:50:36 +0000 http://mtcrimlaw.com/2007/12/23/judge-rejects-new-public-defender-law/#comment-58177 From the comments to that article, it looks like a couple of things are happening. First, the FL constitution apparently says public defenders must be elected, but these conflict PDs are appointed by the legislature, so some object to this on that level. But it also looks like the new conflict counsel system would shift a lot of costs from the state to counties, so the counties object. It's hard to see how lawyers are worrying about a drying up cash-cow -- sounds like the conflict counsel office is just as underfunded as the regular PDs. But who knows? From the comments to that article, it looks like a couple of things are happening. First, the FL constitution apparently says public defenders must be elected, but these conflict PDs are appointed by the legislature, so some object to this on that level. But it also looks like the new conflict counsel system would shift a lot of costs from the state to counties, so the counties object. It’s hard to see how lawyers are worrying about a drying up cash-cow — sounds like the conflict counsel office is just as underfunded as the regular PDs. But who knows?

]]> http://mtcrimlaw.com/2007/12/23/judge-rejects-new-public-defender-law/comment-page-1/#comment-57927 Audacity Sun, 23 Dec 2007 22:43:31 +0000 http://mtcrimlaw.com/2007/12/23/judge-rejects-new-public-defender-law/#comment-57927 Why is the Florida bar opposing? I wonder if it's for legitimate reasons or because they don't want their cash-cow of appointed cases to dry up.. Why is the Florida bar opposing? I wonder if it’s for legitimate reasons or because they don’t want their cash-cow of appointed cases to dry up..

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