February 17, 2023 at 4:17 pm
· Filed under Public Interest Law News Bulletin
Sam Halpert, NALP Director of Public Service Initiatives
Photo: Harris and Ewing Collection, Library of Congress
Hello, interested public! The dominant story in the United States continues to be the ongoing shortage of state and local government workers, including a variety of stories about the difficulties various jurisdictions are having staffing local government attorney positions. As always, these stories and others are in the links below.
Take care of one another,
Sam
Editor’s Choice
Student Loans & Student Debt
Non-Profit & Government Management & Hiring
In New York, “[the] State Legislature has approved chapter amendments to New York State’s pay transparency law, which is slated to take effect on September 17, 2023. The most notable revision would provide that the law applies to remote positions physically performed outside of New York that report to a New York supervisor, office, or work site. The bill is currently before Governor Hochul, and if signed, would become part of the law taking effect in September. ”
In Texas, “Gov. Greg Abbott’s office is warning state agency and public university leaders this week that the use of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives — policies that support groups who have been historically underrepresented or discriminated against — is illegal in hiring. ”
In the United States, “[i]t’s widely known that state and local governments are struggling to recruit and retain workers…But as the number of layoff announcements in the private sector increase and a record number of Americans withdraw funds from their 401(k)s as a result of financial distress, the public sector may be uniquely positioned to reverse its worker shortage with a highly attractive benefit that gives it an edge over the private sector: a pension. ”
Legal Technology
Access to Justice – Civil & Economic
In Harris County TX, “growing eviction dockets mean many cases are decided in less than 90 seconds[.] ”
In Los Angeles CA, “[a]group of city council members proposed a program establishing a right to counsel for tenants in Los Angeles [] as part of a continued effort to expand renter protections. ”
In Albany NY, “[t]he Right to Counsel Coalition launched its 2023 legislative platform during a rally at the Albany State Capitol. ”
In Minnesota, “[a] group of housing advocates is urging state leaders to give out $85 million in federal housing aid as soon as possible amid record numbers of eviction filings across the state…Minnesota Housing officials said they're working on getting the funds out. Officials are developing a proposal of how to use the money based on public input, which was gathered through a December survey. ”
In Florida, “[w]hen the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office teamed up with members of the Appellate Practice Section in 2017 to launch Defending Best Interests (DBI), an initiative in which pro bono attorneys write answer briefs defending the child’s best interests in termination of parental rights appeals, neither entity imagined how many children would be assisted. As of February, pro bono appellate attorneys have represented more than 1,000 dependent children on appeal, helping remove barriers to their permanency in safe and loving homes. ”
Access to Justice – Criminal
In Queens NY, “[a]s contract negotiations between the Legal Aid Society and the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys become increasingly tense, public defense attorneys across the city went on a lunchtime work stoppage[.] ”
In Alaska, “Gov. Mike Dunleavy [] said he is proposing an additional $8.3 million over two years to help address caseload and staffing concerns for the state Public Defender Agency and Office of Public Advocacy. ”
In Missouri, “a judge ruled [that] Missouri’s practice of placing poor criminal defendants on a waiting list for a state-appointed attorney is unconstitutional[.] ”
In Pender County NC, “[a new public defender office] is expected to be up and running by May of this year. ”
In Florida, “[t]he Florida Public Defender Association has proposed a new amendment to an existing Florida Bar rule, allowing court appearances for law school graduates up to a year before their bar admission. The proposal, put forth by the organization’s president, Carlos Martinez, aims to address the shortage of public defenders in the state and improve access to justice. ”
In Ontario, “[t]he Ontario government, the Ontario Court of Justice, Indigenous leaders, and community partners have opened the Kenora Justice Centre. The centre aims to extend community-led support to criminal offenders through health care, education, housing, and other social-service providers. Specialized teams that include Indigenous-led organizations and mental health and addictions counsellors will deliver wrap-around programs addressing the root causes of crimes while supporting healing and growth for at-risk youth and young adults. ”
In Cochise County AZ, “County Public Defender Eugene Marquez is calling it quits, his departure leaving the office that represents mostly indigent defendants rudderless. ”
In Lake County CA, “the Board of Supervisors discussed a report commissioned by the county on indigent defense services and considered a plan to make sure that the constitutional rights of criminal defendants in the local courts are being protected. ”
Criminal Justice Reform and Counter-Reform
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