Criminal Law

Indigent legal defense system to get overhaul
From The Herald (SC): South Carolina’s patchwork system that provides attorneys to defendants who can’t afford them is undergoing a multimillion-dollar transformation — one that advocates say is long overdue...

Hall officials seek to improve indigent defense
From The Gainsville Times: Faced with a growing indigent defense bill where costs were once much lower, Hall County State Court officials want to improve how they provide lawyers for the poor in 2009...

New law aims to save McLennan County time, money by streamlining courts (Waco Tribune-Herald)
McLennan County judges are hoping that a new law passed earlier this month will create sort of a one-stop shopping form of judicial economy for criminal defendants charged with both felonies and misdemeanors.

GA: Indigent defense budgetary concerns do not obviate state's duty to pay conflict defenders
Lawyers appointed to represent an indigent accused as conflict defenders were not paid under the trial court's order. The state contended the county should pay. The State's funding problems and budgetary concerns do not obviate that the lawyers be paid...

Nevada high court explores indigent defense issue
From Nevada Appeal: There was more consensus than controversy among public defenders, prosecutors and county managers who met with the Nevada Supreme Court on proposed changes to programs to represent indigent criminal defendants...

'Indigent Defense Summit' coming in February
Those interested should plan on attending an interesting looking "Indigent Defense Summit" at the Texas capitol in Austin on Feb. 24. Here's the agenda (pdf), and here's the registration information (pdf)...

WA: budgeting for justice east of Wenatchee
From the Wenatchee World:Douglas County mulling switch to nonprofit public defenseIn the midst of a statewide overhaul of indigent criminal defense, Douglas County and at least two other counties in Washington are looking at switching to nonprofit public defender offices next year...

Self Defense
It's legal to defend yourself and your family

Child Support Survival Guide
The Child Support Enforcement System

Jefferson County Sewer System
alleging fraud, negligence, and conspiracy resulting in excessive fees.

CIA
Department of Defense Sued by Veterans

Ministry of Defense
$500,000 in damages in transgender humiliation suit.

The Ministry of Defense
$500,000 in damages in transgender humiliation suit.

Contract Extortion
County Executive Robert Janiszewski ordered to pay Hudson County a $650,000 racketeering settlement.

Government Overbilling
Defense contractor to pay $8.9 million settlement in fraud lawsuit.