LA County Issues Statement on Indigent Criminal Defense Administrative Changes

Los Angeles County released the following statement on planned administrative changes to the County’s Indigent Criminal Defense Appointments program:

Los Angeles County is committed to ensuring that every person charged with a crime, and who cannot afford to hire an attorney, has competent, equitable, caring, and effective legal representation. That commitment continues as we prepare to move toward a new administrative model for the County’s Indigent Criminal Defense Appointments program. Under the new model, planned to take effect in mid-2023, administration of the program will move to the Office of the Public Defender, and services to clients and the courts will continue without interruption. We are grateful to the Los Angeles County Bar Association for their long partnership with the County to represent indigent people who cannot be represented by the Public Defender or Alternate Public Defender. This partnership has long reflected our shared interest in making sure the justice system serves everyone in our communities, and we look forward to a smooth transition to a new administrative model.

A factsheet with additional information is here.