We’ve Officially Run Out Of Money for Court-Appointed Lawyers in Federal Criminal Cases

On the heels of Constitution Day comes news that we’ve officially run out of money to pay court-appointed lawyers in federal criminal cases. Such lawyers, many of whom have already been waiting for payments, will not get paid now until the new fiscal year starts October 1, and they may not get paid then either, due to an ongoing lack of funding of our courts. If the situation doesn’t get better, we may have to begin closing courthouses. We’re assured the government won’t start dismissing criminal cases to save money. But depriving the accused of basic rights? That, apparently, we can live with.