KENNEWICK, Wash. – The Benton County Prosecutor’s Office met Tuesday evening to discuss Washington’s proposed caseload limits for public defenders, a move that has sparked concerns amid an already noticeable shortage of public defenders.
The meeting was led by Prosecuting Attorney Eric Eisinger, who openly discussed the proposed changes by Washington’s Bar Association. He expressed opposition to the idea of lowering caseloads and urged the state supreme court to reconsider the rule changes.
In March 2024, the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) outlined revisions to its public defender rules, including changes to caseload limits. The new limits would be gradually implemented over three years, starting in July 2025. By 2027, public defenders would be restricted to handling a maximum of 47 felony credits, which equates to taking on only nine high-profile cases or 80 misdemeanor cases.
Eisinger voiced serious concerns about the proposed changes.
“…There’s a financial component, and then there’s the issue about do you have enough attorneys to do what’s being proposed?” said Eisinger. “And I think for both of those reasons, this would be this would just be catastrophic for the Tri-Cities.”
In a letter to the Washington Supreme Court, Eisinger mentioned that the new bar changes could lead to public safety issues, create a lack of public trust, and cause challenges with therapeutic courts.
Eisinger also mentioned that the last day to comment on the proposed bar changes is October 31, 2024, urging community members to voice their concerns.
“There have been many hundreds of comments that have already been submitted,” Eisinger said. “I believe all of our local jurisdictions will be submitting a comment to the state Supreme Court, or most of them at least.”
