Today I had a helluva Calendar to work through. It is now 8PM and I am just getting back to my office. We worked out a lot of cases and some folks went home for the holidays. The other PD assigned to my courtroom got out "early" at 6:00 tonight. I got the late shift and am just finishing out my 12 hour day. I returned to my office for some news that has my stomach in a real knot. I'm not sure if I'm physically sick from my long day, or if this just scared the crap out of me. I opened my computer to the following email....
From my boss, the county public defender:
"We just received the recommended budget for our department and it is not good news. There is no easy way for me to say this, but the recommendation is that 13 positions be eliminated from our office. Please know that I will do everything possible to keep these positions. The budget is now up to the Commissioners and they have until March 1st to approve the budget. I have a plan of action, including meeting with each commissioner to impress upon them that we are constitutionally mandated to provide representation and that a crisis in the courts will result if positions are eliminated from the Public Defender’s Office. I have already received support from other departments that they will publicly support us keeping these positions. Unfortunately, we are not the only department to suffer these losses. The majority of departments are losing positions, such as the solicitor’s office who will apparently lose 16 positions.
I know this is terrible news to hear, but I believe it is important that everyone knows what we are facing in 2010. Also, nothing is final yet. Public Defenders know how to fight, so that’s what we will do! I will keep everyone updated ..."
Our office has less than 50 attorneys.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
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