Lawmakers hoping to change the state’s public defense system say the plan is gaining momentum, thanks to a state Court of Appeals decision.
The court this week said a class action lawsuit against three Michigan counties can go forward. The suit says the counties failed to offer adequate legal counsel to people who could not afford lawyers.
State Representative Ellen Lipton is working on legislation to overhaul the state’s public defense system.
“This, I think, will actually focus the issue, not ‘this is a legislative priority,’ but now we’ve got a Court of Appeals decision saying, ‘this is now a priority for our courts.”
The state House passed similar legislation last year, but it stalled in the Senate. Lipton says she hopes new bills will be introduced this month.
