THURSTON COUNTY, Wash.-Franklin County is expressing its support for a recent lawsuit filed by the Washington State Association of Counties, including Yakima, against the State alleging the denial of court-appointed counsel to indigent defendants.
“Franklin County stands with WSAC on this issue,” said Mike Gonzalez, Franklin County Administrator. “The system is broken and we need a clear funding mechanism to support our Office of Public Defense.”
Court-appointed counsel is guaranteed under the U.S. and the Washington State Constitution.
Pacifica Law Group is handling WSAC’s case and in the lawsuit filed in Thurston County on September 7 alleges that the State has failed to provide counties with adequate and reliable funding for indigent defense.
According to a Pacifica press release on the lawsuit, counties currently cover more than 96 percent of indigent defense costs, which leads to inconsistent defense services between counties.
“American Rescue Plan dollars are what is sustaining this department,” said Gonzalez. “We have used $300,000 just this year to support their efforts. This temporary approach needs to be fixed. We are asking the state to help,” said Franklin County Administrator Mike Gonzalez.”
WSAC’s lawsuit asks the Court to declare the State’s indigent defense system unconstitutional and asks for the State to consistently fund indigent defense.
