Kamala Harris wants public defenders to get paid as much as prosecutors

[DesertRat]

Public defenders are notoriously overworked, underpaid, and constantly juggling an overwhelming caseload. As a startling New York Times story found this past January, one attorney in Louisiana was working 194 felony cases, while another was balancing 413. Public defenders in certain places are often fielding two to five times the cases they can effectively handle, according to the piece. And they’re doing it for pay that’s far from comparable for the work.

Kamala Harris, a long-time prosecutor and current 2020 candidate, wants to take a first step toward fixing this.

Earlier this month, Harris introduced a bill aimed at limiting public defenders’ workload and increasing their pay to be comparable with that of prosecutors. This week, Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL) is offering a companion bill in the House.

Harris’s proposal, dubbed the Equal Defense Act, is significant: The conversation about criminal justice reform has long omitted public defenders from the discussion, and this bill seeks to change that. Additionally, it’s politically savvy: Harris has been criticized for her past record as a prosecutor, and this bill demonstrates an effort to aid those who are often on the other side of the courtroom.

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/5/17/18540359/kamala-harris-2020-democrats-public-defenders-prosecutors

[appal_jack]

1. Excellent proposal!

Senator Harris continues to impress me with substantive proposals that most often would bend the arc of this country's future toward justice. This is definitely one of them that every Democratic candidate should embrace.

k&r,

-app

[Eric J in MN]

2. Great idea. NT

NT

[loyalsister]

3. This would be a big step

towards reforming disparities in the criminal justice system. I have been generally skeptical of prosecutors, but maybe being a part of that system and viewing injustice up close is an asset.
I like what she has said about pardoning non violent drug offenders too.

[dalton99a]

4. Kick