On Death Row, a Battle Over the Fatal Cocktail
This blog provides stories from the Advocate and other publications of Kentucky's Department of Public Advocacy. The DPA is a state-wide public defender agency.
Thursday, September 16, 2004
Monday, September 13, 2004
More news from Mass
From Mass AG:Building a more effective public defender system
Under our Constitution we have a responsibility to provide counsel to indigent criminal defendants at the state's expense. That right is not in dispute. But the best way for the Commonwealth to fulfill this obligation is very much in question. It is always hard to fashion a long-term solution when faced with a short-term crisis. But that is what we must do. Before concluding that more resources should be devoted to this obligation, a few things must happen.
Lawyer shortage is seen easing
More answer call to defend poor
Justice Francis X. Spina said that judges in the county have informed him that more private lawyers have come forward to represent poor defendants since he held a hearing Aug. 23 about the shortage, which stems from an ongoing pay dispute.
Under our Constitution we have a responsibility to provide counsel to indigent criminal defendants at the state's expense. That right is not in dispute. But the best way for the Commonwealth to fulfill this obligation is very much in question. It is always hard to fashion a long-term solution when faced with a short-term crisis. But that is what we must do. Before concluding that more resources should be devoted to this obligation, a few things must happen.
Lawyer shortage is seen easing
More answer call to defend poor
Justice Francis X. Spina said that judges in the county have informed him that more private lawyers have come forward to represent poor defendants since he held a hearing Aug. 23 about the shortage, which stems from an ongoing pay dispute.