Public Defender, 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida v. State of Florida (Amicus Brief)
The Brennan Center and several other groups argue that overworked public defenders should be allowed to refuse new cases assignments when their caseloads become unmanageable in a recent amicus brief.
The Brennan Center, along with several other groups, filed an amicus brief on behalf of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers arguing that overworked public defenders should be allowed to refuse new cases assignments when their caseloads become unmanageable. The brief argues defense attorneys have shown that excessive caseloads threaten to create “conflicts of interest” and deprives their current and former indigent clients of the effective assistance of counsel and that public defenders should therefore be entitled to limit further representation.