Suit against La. indigent defense system to be filed

BATON ROUGE, La. -- A promised lawsuit that will seek court supervision of Louisiana's system of providing criminal defense lawyers for poor defendants is expected to be filed next week in Lake Charles, attorneys preparing the case say.

"The suit is being coordinated by the National Association of Criminal
Defense Lawyers in Washington, D.C.Similar lawsuits are pending in Mississippi,
Michigan, Montana, New York, Pennsylvania and Washington state. Another is being
prepared in Virginia"