I don’t understand the administration’s reluctance to fund indigent services, it’s very disappointing.

Yeah, it is weird. We're apparently violating people's constitutional right to representation at this point, so you'd think it's worth chucking a few more dollars their way. Our whole justice system is a mess right now, from the courts to jails to indigent defense.

The budget includes $17 million (additional?) in funding for the indigent legal services. This is intended to fund 10 more lawyers and reimburse lawyers providing indigent services at higher rates. Honestly I’m not clear on the scope of this issue and what it will cost to fix, but I’m glad the governor is not seemingly completely ignoring it anymore.

Granted, after nearing what seemed to be a brewing constitutional crisis, sh relented in the funding but had to add strings. I work with folk who have appointed counsel and the quality of many of them could be described as dismal. Hopefully this will attract more lawyers to take cases and lighten the load across the board.

That’s a pretty massive investment. Those are good paying jobs that lawyers will take.

When do we get our heating relief checks?