Jul 19, 2010
Bar Challenge to New York City Described as ‘Assault’ on Indigent Defense
New York City has sharply criticized a suit brought by five bar associations as “an assault” against its indigent defense system undertaken “in a hope to protect the pecuniary interests of their members.” The city’s challenge came in response to litigation by bar groups seeking to block a city plan to take away most “conflict” cases currently handled by private practitioners and shift them to institutional providers, such as the Legal Aid Society.