A Review of the Operation and Performance of the Office of the State Public Defender

OVERVIEW

The cost of indigent appellate defense is rising dramatically. This study notes duplicative administrative and overview costs between the State Public Defender and the court-appointed private counsel system.

The Commission makes seven findings and eight recommendations, including the merger of the Public Defender’s Office, the Appellate Projects and private court-appointed counsel into a single autonomous agency. This will address current problems and ensure continued high quality criminal indigent appellate defense within the State.