Under the shadow of a rushed and unusually chaotic budget process last month, Mississippi legislators approved nearly $700,000 for a pilot program to help poor defendants in one of the state’s most rural areas get public defenders.
kAm|:DD:DD:AA: =2H>2<6CD 92G6 =@?8 C6D:DE65 C67@C>:?8 E96 DE2E6’D 5JD7F?4E:@?2= AF3=:4 5676?D6 DJDE6>[ H9:49 42? @7E6? =62G6 2? :?5:86?E 5676?52?E :? ;2:= 7@C H66<D @C >@?E9D H:E9@FE 2446DD E@ 2 =2HJ6C[ 2 =@?8\96=5 r@?DE:EFE:@?2= C:89E]k^Am
kAmv@G] %2E6 #66G6D 92D F?E:= yF?6 `h E@ D:8? E96 7F?5:?8 3:==[ 2==@H :E E@ 364@>6 =2H H:E9@FE D:8?:?8[ @C G6E@ :E] %96 3:== AC@G:56D Seeg[___ 7@C E96 ~77:46 @7 $E2E6 !F3=:4 s676?56C E@ D6E FA E96 @?6\J62C E6DE CF?]k^Am
kAm$E2E6 !F3=:4 s676?56C p?5Cé 56 vCFJ D2:5 :7 E96 3:== 364@>6D =2H[ E96 >@?6J H:== 36 FD65 E@ 9:C6 E9C66 @C 7@FC 2EE@C?6JD 2?5 DFAA@CE DE277 H@C<:?8 :? E96 D6G6? 4@F?E:6D @7 E96 DE2E6’D dE9 r:C4F:E r@FCE s:DEC:4E[ =@42E65 :? ?@CE9\46?EC2= |:DD:DD:AA:] %9@D6 ?6H 2EE@C?6JD H@F=5 H@C< 2=@?8D:56 =2HJ6CD 2=C625J 92?5=:?8 AF3=:4 5676?D6 :? E96 5:DEC:4E] w6 9@A6D E96 A:=@E AC@8C2> H:== 36 C6?6H65 ?6IE J62C 2?5 F=E:>2E6=J CF? 7@C E9C66 J62CD] %96 ?6H DE2E6 >@?6J H@F=5 4@>6 :? 255:E:@? E@ H92E E96 4@F?E:6D :? E92E 4@FCE 5:DEC:4E 2C6 2=C625J DA6?5:?8 @? AF3=:4 5676?D6]k^Am
kAmp <6J 8@2= H:== 36 E@ C6AC6D6?E :?5:86?E 76=@?J 4=:6?ED 368:??:?8 E96 52J E96J 2C6 7:CDE 492C865[ 56 vCFJ D2:5] %92E’D 2? 2C62 H96C6 AF3=:4 5676?D6 :? |:DD:DD:AA: 92D =@?8 72:=65 E@ >66E ?2E:@?2= DE2?52C5D]k^Am
kAm“%96 AC24E:46 @7 62C=J C6AC6D6?E2E:@? C62==J 5@6D?’E 92AA6? 2?JH96C6 :? |:DD:DD:AA:[” 56 vCFJ D2:5[ DA62<:?8 @7 5676?52?ED H:E9 4@FCE\2AA@:?E65 4@F?D6=]k^Am
kAmpE @?=J 2 J62C’D H@CE9 @7 >@?6J[ :E’D 2 D>2== DE6A 3FE DE:== >2C<D E96 >@DE >62?:?87F= >@G6 7C@> E96 {68:D=2EFC6 :? J62CD E@ :>AC@G6 E96 DE2E6’D A2E49H@C< AF3=:4 5676?D6 DJDE6>] x7 E96 3:== 364@>6D =2H[ :E H:== 36 E96 7:CDE E:>6 2?J DE2E6 >@?6J 92D 8@?6 E@H2C5 ?@?\562E9\A6?2=EJ 42D6D :? =@42= EC:2= 4@FCED @FED:56 w:?5D r@F?EJ]k^Am
kAmsFC:?8 DE2E6 $6?2E6 5632E6[ $6?] qC:46 (:88:?D[ 2 vF=7 r@2DE\2C62 #6AF3=:42? H9@ D96A96C565 E96 7F?5:?8 3:==[ 56D4C:365 E96 A:=@E AC@8C2> 2D 2 “H2J 7@C FD E@ DE2CE =@@<:?8 2E 2 DE2E6H:56 AF3=:4 5676?56C DJDE6>]”k^Am
kAmx? |:DD:DD:AA:[ AF3=:4 5676?D6 :D =2C86=J =67E E@ 2 DAC2H=:?8 ?6EH@C< @7 =@42= 4@FCED 2?5 8@G6C?>6?ED H:E9 ?@ DE2E6 C6D@FC46D @C 7F?5:?8] %96C6 :D 2=D@ ?@ >@?:E@C:?8 @C @G6CD:89E @7 9@H =@42= DJDE6>D A6C7@C>] p 5676?52?E 724:?8 76=@?J 492C86D 42? >@G6 E9C@F89 2D >2?J 2D E9C66 5:776C6?E 4@FCED[ D@>6E:>6D 492?8:?8 =2HJ6CD 2=@?8 E96 H2J @C 6G6? 8@:?8 H:E9@FE 2 =2HJ6C 7@C <6J DEC6E496D @7 E:>6]k^Am
kAm%96 ~77:46 @7 $E2E6 !F3=:4 s676?56C[ H9:49 56 vCFJ H2D 2AA@:?E65 3J E96 8@G6C?@C E@ =625[ 92?5=6D 562E9 A6?2=EJ 42D6D 2?5 2AA62=D 3J :?5:86?E 5676?52?ED 7@==@H:?8 E96:C @C:8:?2= EC:2=D] %96 @77:46 2=D@ C646:G6D D@>6 >@?6J E@ 96=A DFAA=6>6?E E96 w:?5D r@F?EJ !F3=:4 s676?56C’D ~77:46’D 7F?5:?8]k^Am
kAm~E96CH:D6[ 56 vCFJ’D @77:46 A=2JD ?@ C@=6 :? C6AC6D6?E:?8 =@42= 76=@?J 5676?52?ED]k^Am
kAmtIA6CED 92G6 6DE:>2E65 E92E 2D >2?J 2D g_T @7 E96 DE2E6’D 76=@?J 5676?52?ED 2C6 :?5:86?E] %96 A6C46?E286 :D =:<6=J 9:896C :? 4@F?E:6D H:E9 9:89 A@G6CEJ C2E6D]k^Am
kAm“|:DD:DD:AA: 92D 925 E96 D2>6 AC@3=6>D 7@C E96 b_ J62CD x’G6 366? H@C<:?8 @? :E[” D2:5 s2G:5 r2CC@==[ E96 7@F?56C 2?5 AC6D:56?E @7 E96 $:IE9 p>6?5>6?E r6?E6C[ 2 q@DE@?\32D65 ?@?AC@7:E E9:?< E2?< E92E 7@4FD6D @? E96 :>AC@G6>6?E @7 AF3=:4 5676?D6 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ]k^Am
kAm(:E9 @?=J @?6 J62C @7 7F?5:?8 7@C ;FDE @?6 @7 E96 DE2E6’D ab 4:C4F:E 4@FCE 5:DEC:4ED[ :E’D F?4=62C H96E96C E96 3:== H:== 492CE E96 H2J E@H2C5 DE2E6H:56 :>AC@G6>6?ED]k^Am
kAmtG6? 2D 96’D “4966C:?8 E9:D @?[” r2CC@== D2:5 DEC@?86C 4@>>:E>6?ED 7C@> E96 DE2E6 2C6 ?66565 E@ EFC? 2 D9@CE\E6C> AC@8C2> :?E@ 2 =2DE:?8 C67@C> 677@CE]k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 67764E:G6 DJDE6>D 42? 36 3F:=E :? 2 A:646>62= 72D9:@?] w6 A@:?E65 E@ z6?EF4<J 2?5 v6@C8:2[ H9:49 FD65 :?4C6>6?E2=[ 4@F?EJ\3J\4@F?EJ 2AAC@2496D E@ AC@5F46 DE2E6H:56 492?86D]k^Am
kAm%96 7F?5:?8 3:== 2=D@ 4@>6D 2>:5 :?4C62D:?8 D4CFE:?J @7 E96 DE2E6’D D@\42==65 “5625 K@?6” — E96 E:>6 36EH66? E96 7:CDE 2AA62C2?46 367@C6 2 ;F586 2?5 2? :?5:4E>6?E 3J 2 8C2?5 ;FCJ[ H9:49 42? E2<6 >@?E9D]k^Am
kAmp7E6C E96:C 7:CDE 2AA62C2?46 :? 4@FCE[ :?5:86?E 5676?52?ED H6C6 @7E6? F?C6AC6D6?E65 367@C6 :?5:4E>6?E[ 6G6? H96? ;2:=65] p=>@DE EH@ J62CD 28@[ E96 |:DD:DD:AA: $FAC6>6 r@FCE 32??65 E9:D AC24E:46[ 2E =62DE @? A2A6C]k^Am
kAm%96 9:89 4@FCE @C56C65 E96 =@H6C 4@FCED E@ 4@?E:?F@FD=J AC@G:56 2 A@@C 5676?52?E H:E9 2 =2HJ6C]k^Am
kAmw@H6G6C[ E96 5646?EC2=:K65 ?2EFC6 @7 AF3=:4 5676?D6 :? |:DD:DD:AA: >62?D E92E :E’D 366? 92C5 E@ 56E6C>:?6 H96E96C E96 ?6H CF=6 :D 36:?8 7@==@H65]k^Am
kAm#6A@CE:?8 3J %96 |2CD92== !C@;64E[ !C@!F3=:42 2?5 E96 }@CE962DE |:DD:DD:AA: s2:=J y@FC?2= 7@F?5 E92E >2?J 4@FCED 5:5 ?@E :?:E:2==J 92G6 2?J A=2? 23@FE 9@H E@ 7@==@H E96 ?6H CF=6] p7E6C E96 ?6HD C6A@CED[ 2 7@C>6C DE2E6 $FAC6>6 r@FCE ;FDE:46 D2:5 >F49 E96 D2>6 E@ 2 DE2E6 w@FD6 @7 #6AC6D6?E2E:G6D 4@>>:EE66 :? a_ab]k^Am
kAm%96 9F>2? E@== 42? 36 D:8?:7:42?E] %96 |2CD92== !C@;64E AC6G:@FD=J C6A@CE65 E92E @?6 >2? DA6?E 23@FE 2 J62C\2?5\2\92=7 :? ;2:= @? 2 5CF8 492C86 H:E9 ?@ =2HJ6C 367@C6 2 ;F586 2DD:8?65 9:> 2? 2EE@C?6J 2?5 @C56C65 9:> C6=62D65] x? 2?@E96C 4@F?EJ[ 2 =@42= ;F586 7@C465 2 H@>2? E@ C6AC6D6?E 96CD6=7 5FC:?8 2 <6J 4@FCE 962C:?8 6G6? 27E6C D96 2D<65 7@C 2AA@:?E65 4@F?D6=] $96 F=E:>2E6=J E6DE:7:65 @? 96C 3692=7 H:E9@FE 2? 2EE@C?6J’D 2DD:DE2?46]k^Am
kAm$@=G:?8 E9:D “s2J `” AC@3=6> H:== 36 2 <6J 8@2= 7@C E96 A:=@E AC@8C2>[ D2:5 56 vCFJ[ E96 DE2E6 AF3=:4 5676?56C]k^Am
kAmw6’D 366? :? E2=<D 7@C >@?E9D H:E9 =@42= @77:4:2=D @7 E96 DE2E6’D dE9 r:C4F:E r@FCE s:DEC:4E[ :?4=F5:?8 ;F586D[ =2H 6?7@C46>6?E 7:8FC6D[ 2?5 4:EJ 2?5 4@F?EJ @77:4:2=D] %96 4@F?E:6D :? E96 dE9 5:DEC:4E 2C6 pEE2=2[ r2CC@==[ r9@4E2H[ vC6?252[ |@?E8@>6CJ[ (63DE6C 2?5 (:?DE@?] $6G6C2= @7 E96D6 4@F?E:6D 92G6 9:89 A@G6CEJ C2E6D[ DF49 2D (:?DE@?[ H96C6 &]$] r6?DFD 52E2 D9@H65 ?62C=J b_T @7 C6D:56?ED =:G:?8 :? A@G6CEJ :? a_ab] %96 DE2E6H:56 A@G6CEJ C2E6 :? a_ab H2D `gT]k^Am
kAmt2C=J C6AC6D6?E2E:@? 42? =625 E@ 2 BF:4<6C C6D@=FE:@? @7 2 42D6[ E96 AC6D6CG2E:@? @7 6G:56?46[ :56?E:7:42E:@? @7 5676?52?ED H9@ C6BF:C6 >6?E2= 962=E9 :?E6CG6?E:@?[ 2?5 =@H6C 4@DED 7@C 4@F?EJ ;2:=D[ 56 vCFJ D2:5]k^Am
kAm(:88:?D[ E96 D6?2E@C[ E@=5 =2H>2<6CD E92E 2? :>AC@G65 2?5 67764E:G6 AF3=:4 5676?D6 DJDE6> “24EF2==J >2<6D @FC 4@FCED CF? 36EE6C]”k^Am
kAm%96 AC@A@D65 7F?5:?8 72465 DE:77 BF6DE:@?:?8 :? E96 $6?2E6[ :?4=F5:?8 7C@> D6G6C2= D6?2E@CD H9@ 92G6 366? A2:5 3J 4@F?E:6D E@ AC@G:56 AF3=:4 5676?D6 H@C<] s632E6 @? E96 >62DFC6 42>6 5FC:?8 2 492@E:4 EH@\52J DA64:2= D6DD:@? E@ A2DD 2 3F586E[ 2?5 D@>6 =2H>2<6CD 4@>A=2:?65 E92E E96J 5:5?’E <?@H 6?@F89 23@FE E96 A:=@E AC@8C2> 56 vCFJ H@F=5 @G6CD66]k^Am
kAm%96 7F?5:?8 7@C E96 CFC2= AF3=:4 5676?56C AC@8C2> >:89E G6CJ H6== 92G6 366? AF==65 925 :E ?@E 366? 2EE24965 E@ 2 =2C86C 3:== 3C@F89E FA @? 2 5@\@C\5:6 G@E6] %96 $6?2E6 =2DE J62C <:==65 2 3:== E92E H@F=5 92G6 2FE9@C:K65 E96 DE2E6 AF3=:4 5676?56C E@ 6DE23=:D9 DE2E6H:56 AF3=:4 5676?D6 DE2?52C5D 7@C =@42= @77:4:2=D E@ 7@==@H]k^Am
kAmx? 56D:8?:?8 E96 AC@A@D65 A:=@E AC@8C2>[ E96 ~77:46 @7 $E2E6 !F3=:4 s676?D6 92D A2CE?6C65 H:E9 E96 s62D@? rC:>:?2= yFDE:46 #67@C> r6?E6C[ 2 C6D62C49 46?E6C 9@FD65 2E $@FE96C? |6E9@5:DE &?:G6CD:EJ {2H $49@@= :? %6I2D] x7 E96 AC@8C2> 7F?5:?8 :D 2AAC@G65[ s62D@? H:== 2=D@ 36 :?G@=G65 :? E96 @A6C2E:@? 2?5 6G2=F2E:@? @7 E96 AC@8C2>]k^Am
Newsletters
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Error! There was an error processing your request.
