The Numbers Don't Lie
The constitutional right to counsel is meaningless if that counsel is too overworked to read your file. In DC Superior Court, the CJA panel system is breaking under the weight of "exploding" caseloads and stagnant funding.
The Daily Grind
25
Number of cases some CJA attorneys manage in a single day.
Funding Freeze
Federal funding shortfalls led to suspended payments for CJA attorneys, forcing many to stop working or withdraw from cases, leaving defendants in limbo.
Impact on Defendants
For a defendant sitting in the DC Jail, this crisis means:
- No Visits: Attorneys don't have time to visit the jail to discuss strategy.
- Coerced Pleas: Overworked lawyers pressure clients to plead guilty to "move the case along."
- Missed Evidence: Without investigators, crucial alibi witnesses or surveillance footage is never found.