Romney eyes reins on public defenders

[Justice]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2004/08/12/romney_eyes_reins_on_public_defenders/

Governor Mitt Romney, furious that a pay dispute involving court-appointed defense lawyers led to the release of three alleged drug dealers in Hampden County on Monday, filed a bill yesterday to wrest control of the state public defender agency from the judicial branch to end the burgeoning legal crisis.

If given oversight of the Committee for Public Counsel Services by the Democrat-controlled Legislature, Romney said, he would force lawyers to choose between accepting new cases at current rates or be banned from doing such work in Massachusetts.

He blamed mismanagement in the committee, the state agency that represents poor defendants, for the pretrial release of potentially dangerous defendants without bail.

[DarkPhenyx]

1. We're going to see more of this too.

The Judiciary is woefully underfunded in the next budget. They are taking a 3% cut which, after factoring in increases in fixed expenses, come out to somthting like 36% cut. Less money to pay jurors, maintain their IT infrastructure, pay law clerks, et. al. We are going to see more delays in processing, more people being released because they weren't tried in a timely fashion, and more. Less supervision of violent offenders released on probation....let's not even talk about the effect this will have on "Homeland Security"...and all because we have a jackass for a President.

[2Design]

2. get rid of mit romney.....he is evil

[gratuitous]

3. The perfect Republican response

Don't like it? You're fired! I'll find someone to do the job at the pittance I'm willing to pay. Then bitch about the poor quality of the job done, and moan about how hard it is to find good help nowadays. Then it's off to the club for a few well-earned martinis, leer at the waitress, then to beddy-bye.

[StopTheMorans]

4. Mitt, you cheap bastard

MA's cost of living is one of the highest in the country, and MA public defenders are the lowest paid in the country. This state isn't a corporation where you can take over, fire the workers, and re-hire others at a lower rate. WORST. GOVERNOR. EVER.

[Cobalt Violet]

5. Mabey they can send it all to India

Set up our court systems there. That way they can pay Wal-Mart wages to law professionals.