Court-appointed lawyers for indigent defendants in federal court face a funding crisis that began on July 3, leading to unpaid work and concerns of attorneys declining new cases. Without supplemental funding from Congress, payment will not resume until the next fiscal year starts on October 1. The lack of funds also affects investigators and other specialists hired by attorneys. With a hiring freeze affecting federal defender organizations, the loss of about 10 attorneys in North Dakota highlights the severity of the situation, with a total owed $110,000 to local panel attorneys.
"The funding shortfall that began on July 3 has spurred concern that the panel attorneys could decline new cases, leaving some defendants without representation."
"About 10 panel attorneys in North Dakota have withdrawn from the program because of the shortfall, the North Dakota Monitor reports, citing information from Jason Tupman, the federal public defender for North and South Dakota."
"Panel attorneys are paid $175 an hour in noncapital cases and up to $223 an hour in death-penalty cases."
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