Alameda CA Public Defender Job Cuts Mean Cases Refused

In June we reported that Alameda County, California would cut 15 people in the Public Defender’s Office. The cuts will reduce headcount at the office to 88.

Now, in anticipation of those cuts, which take effect in September, the county’s public defenders have stopped taking some out-of-custody misdemeanor and probation violation cases, declaring conflicts of interest based on overload.

San Francisco’s PD has also started declining to defend complex cases.

The cases refused by public defenders are referred to private counsel. These private lawyers cost more than the salaries of the lawyers to be laid off.

In March, California’s 1st District Court of Appeal rules that PDs overwhelmed with new cases should decline some, amongst other steps to ensure those cases accepted can be defended properly.

• Alameda County, California to Cut 29 Attorneys
• Layoffs for Sacramento DA Office
• More Cuts at the San Joaquin DA’s Office
• California Courthouses to Close Once a Month
• San Francisco City Lawyers Extend 2% Pay Cut

Posted by Erik Even on August 5, 2009. Filed under Home,Layoffs,Legal News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry