Miscellaneous

Minor Crimes, Major Report

By Anne Skove, Esq.

The NACDL has issued a new report, Minor Crimes, Massive Waste: The Terrible Toll of America's Broken Misdemeanor Court.

From NACDL:

The explosive growth of misdemeanor cases is placing a staggering burden on America's courts. Defenders across the country are forced to carry unethical caseloads* that leave too little time for clients to be properly represented. As a result, constitutional obligations are left unmet and taxpayers' money is wasted.

See also Seattle University Professor's Report Calls Misdemeanor Courts Alarming, Ian Ith, Seattle Times (April 28, 2009).

It's extra-alarming during times of economic stress. A suspended license can mean the difference between employment and un-.

*This is not just rhetoric; ethics opinions saying exactly the same thing have been released in many jurisdictions. Virginia State Bar Legal Ethics Opinion 1798 condemns high prosecutorial caseloads, and also addresses defender caseloads. See also the informal letter opinion from James M. McCauley, Ethics Counsel for the Virginia State Bar, dated July 19, 2004. The ABA agrees.

Full post as published by court-o-rama.org on April 29, 2009 (boomark / email).