KY. Public Defenders May Refuse New Cases
"If his office's budget is cut again, Kentucky's top public defender plans to tell his lawyers to refuse to take new cases of poor people charged with crimes. "I think innocent people will end up being convicted of crimes," said Ernie Lewis, head of the Public Advocacy Department."
"His decision means impoverished criminal defendants might go to trial, and face potentially lengthy terms in prison, with no attorney -- or they could be released without their case being heard, Lewis said. Without lawyers, some defendants might feel pressured to plead guilty, he said."
[link via Instapundit]
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