Indigent Defense

Provide scholarship support to indigent defense providers (public defenders and private assigned counsel) to attend NACDL's 2016 Making the Case for Life seminar in New Orleans, LA July 14-16, 2016.

In July of 2013, two public acts were signed into law by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder. These acts established the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) and charged that commission with creating and enforcing uniform public defense standards throughout the state of Michigan.

Tennessee does not currently collect accurate caseload data from its courts. The problem is particularly acute in the General Sessions Courts, where almost all cases originate and where the vast majority are disposed of. The problem is twofold: In some counties, no data is being collected or reported; in other counties, data is being collected and/or reported, but in a format inconsistent with the standard definition of a "case".

The Indigent Defense Study Committee, a study group formed by the Utah Judicial Council, has been assigned to develop recommendations to assure that adequate and appropriate indigent defense is provided consistently throughout the state. To meet this goal, information about the current structures and issues in providing such defense is critical.

To date no government entity, academic institution, organization or individual has been able to collect complete data on how right to counsel services are organized and funded in Mississippi. In 2011, the Mississippi Legislature took initial steps to rectify this situation through the creation of the Office of the State Public Defender (OSPD). OSPD is statutorily tasked with coordinating the collection of statistical data and making recommendations to a Supreme Court Task force on the creation of a unified statewide right to counsel system.