Ithaca DWI Lawyer: Why Upstate New York Public Defenders and Assigned Counsel Has Problems

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The headlines are gripping:

         Why You're in Deep Trouble If You Can't Afford a Lawyer

                                                                     Mother Jones Magazine

The New York State public defense system is in need of reformation and change. Of the 62 NYS counties, 24 have public defender offices, and the other 38 use assigned counsel (aka 18-B) lawyers. Ithaca (Tompkins County) and Watkins Glen (Schuyler County) use assigned counsel lawyers exclusively for public defense.

New York State uses full and part time public defenders as well as assigned counsel lawyers. All are paid for their legal services by their respective county either on a flat rate or an hourly rate. Some seemingly private attorneys also take public defense (assigned counsel) cases. There are numerous issues with New York's public system because it is largely overworked and underfunded.

Can you get by with a New York Public defender for your DWI or DWAI drugs charges?