The Arkansas Public Defender Commission is facing the possibility of laying off more than 30 attorneys due to a lack of funding to process a backlog of over 5,000 cases resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The commission had previously received $4.5 million in federal funds, but lawmakers are concerned that it was not effectively used. The cases handled by laid-off attorneys would be transferred to local public defender offices. The request for $1.25 million to continue processing the backlog will be considered by the Arkansas Legislative Council. Some lawmakers expressed frustration that the funds did not reduce the backlog significantly and questioned why the funding request was made so close to the potential layoffs.
In a separate matter, the State Board of Election Commissioners received approval for $500,000 in state funds to hire legal representation in an ongoing federal court case regarding a rule requiring in-person signatures on voter registration forms. The rule, known as the “wet signature” rule, has faced criticism for potentially suppressing voter registration, particularly among first-time voters and people with disabilities. Attorney General Tim Griffin recused himself from the case due to a conflict of interest, and the Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard law firm in Little Rock is likely to represent the defendants. Voter advocacy group Get Loud Arkansas is the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit.
Overall, the issues surrounding the public defender funding and the voter registration signature rule highlight ongoing challenges faced by the legal system in Arkansas.
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Photo credit arktimes.com
