Category Archives: Bail

Cop House Lawyers Ordered In Chicago

Posted on March 14, 2017 by richardzorza

This could be the begining of a major change.  As few outside the criminal justice system know, in the US most people without resources do not get to talk to a lawyer until shortly before they see a judge. That … Continue reading →

Posted in Bail, Chasm with Communities, Criminal Law, Defender Programs, Policing, Public Defender, Research and Evalation | Comments Off on Cop House Lawyers Ordered In Chicago

DOJ Dear Colleague Letter on Fines and Forfeiture is Another Game Changer

Posted on March 14, 2016 by richardzorza

As the Times reports, DOJ has issued and sent to all the state chief  justices and state court administrators a Dear Colleague letter on the subject of court fines and fees.  The helpful and positive tone of the letter is … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Bail, Chasm with Communities, Court Fees and Costs, Funding, Judicial Ethics | 2 Comments

Jim Greiner’s Comment on the Inherent Conflict Respresented by Funding Public Defenders by Fees Charged Defendant’s and My Response

Posted on September 21, 2015 by richardzorza

Jim Greiner has submitted a brilliant and challenging comment on my recent post about the funding of 41% of the New Orleans Public Defender from court fines, fees and assessments.  It is worth very serious consideration.  Here is the full … Continue reading →

Posted in Attorney-Client, Bail, Budget Issues, Chasm with Communities, Commentators, Court Management, Criminal Law, Defender Programs, Political Support, Poverty, Public Defender | 4 Comments

Disturbing Question — How on Earth Can a Public Defender Program Rely on Court Imposed Fees for its Budget?

Posted on September 19, 2015 by richardzorza

I am not sure I can stand this. According to its own communication director, the New Orleans public defender relies on fines and fees imposed by the court for 41% of its budget (NOLA CityLab here). New Orleans’ Office of … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Counsel, Attorney-Client, Bail, Court Fees and Costs, Defender Programs, Poverty | 3 Comments

Counsel Who Won Bail Affordability Case Guest Blogs on “Human Beings in cages because they can not afford to pay money bail”

Posted on June 5, 2015 by richardzorza

This is an important post by Alec Karakatsanis, of Equal Justice Under Law, counsel in a recent victory in a case dealing with unaffordable cash bail.  The lawsuit was brought by Equal Justice Under Law and ArchCity Defenders, a non-profit … Continue reading →

Posted in Bail, Chasm with Communities, Court Fees and Costs, Public Defender, Reentry | 1 Comment