Category Archives: Public Defender

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

Thoughts on the Medical Consent Process and Implications for the Relationship Between Courts, Legal Advocates and Clients

Posted on January 23, 2016 by richardzorza

Yesterday, I had a bone marrow biopsy, as part of my ongoing medical care dealing with bone marrow cancer.  That biopsy is not my favorite thing, but let me tell you, as often at Hopkins, you are reminded just what … Continue reading →

Posted in Attorney-Client, Criminal Law, Defender Programs, Judicial Ethics, Legal Ethics, Medical System Comparision, Personal, Public Defender, Transparency | 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

Research Suggests “In Court, Your Face Could Determine Your Fate”

Posted on July 19, 2015 by richardzorza

NPR picks up on recent research about the relationship between facial appearance and sentencing. (Full study here.) Individuals who are deemed to have untrustworthy faces are significantly more likely to be on death row compared with other people convicted of … Continue reading →

Posted in Criminal Law, Public Defender, Research and Evalation | 5 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

Interdisciplinary Education Comes to Medicine — What About Law?

Posted on May 14, 2015 by richardzorza

A recent NYT blog highlights how medical education trains its varied professionals, doctors, nurses, physicians assistants, in totally isolated silos, even though today they almost always actually practice in integrated teams. But, there are now some changes described in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Law Schools, Medical System Comparision, Public Defender, Systematic Change | 1 Comment

What Does it Mean that DOJ Has Filed a Statement of Interest in NY Right to Quality Counsel Case?

Posted on October 8, 2014 by richardzorza

As folks should know by now, the US DOJ has filed a “Statement of Interest” in the ongoing New York State case about the quality of indigent defense services. While taking no formal position on the merits of the case, … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Criminal Law, Dept. of Justice, Public Defender | Comments Off on What Does it Mean that DOJ Has Filed a Statement of Interest in NY Right to Quality Counsel Case?

“Gideon Voucher” Experiment Offers Client Choice

Posted on January 5, 2014 by richardzorza

Adam Liptak has a fascinating piece in today’s New York Times that includes discussion of an experimental “Gideon Voucher” system to be tried in Comal County, Tex with funding from the Texas Indigent Defense Commission. The article contrasts it to … Continue reading →

Posted in Defender Programs, Funding, Mixed Model, Public Defender, Systematic Change | 1 Comment

Greater DOJ Inlolvement in Defense Services Issues Gets Attention

Posted on September 8, 2013 by richardzorza

The intervention by the Department of Justice in the quality of indigent defense services — very much a first from this administration — is getting deserved praise.  NPR had a story: . . . an unprecedented recent court filing from … Continue reading →

Posted in Dept. of Justice, Funding, Public Defender | Comments Off on Greater DOJ Inlolvement in Defense Services Issues Gets Attention

Memories of a Mentor, and Honoring a Prosecutor

Posted on March 18, 2013 by richardzorza

On the 50th anniversary of Gideon v. Wainright, I keep thinking about one of my mentors, Brownlow (Browny) Speer, who died a few weeks ago. Browny was Chief Appellate Attorney of first the Massachusetts Defenders Committee, and then its successor, … Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Justice Generally, Criminal Law, Legal Ethics, Public Defender, Vocation | Comments Off on Memories of a Mentor, and Honoring a Prosecutor

Webinar on Fedeal Funding Resources for Public Defenders

Posted on February 3, 2013 by richardzorza

The webinar description (Strengthening Indigent Defense: Understanding State and Federal Resources, posted by the National Criminal Justice Association) says it all: This webinar (now online) will showcase the Justice Department’s efforts to encourage jurisdictions to bring all system stakeholders together … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, Public Defender | Comments Off on Webinar on Fedeal Funding Resources for Public Defenders

ABA Sets Up Juvenile Collateral Consequences Site

Posted on October 1, 2012 by richardzorza

This site is  nice clean example of using technology to alert people to problems that they might otherwise ignore.  It is designed to let juveniles think about the possible consequences of juvenile pleas that go beyond the obvious. I also … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal Aid, Public Defender | Comments Off on ABA Sets Up Juvenile Collateral Consequences Site