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Miami-Dade Public Defender Says He Will Refuse Felony Cases
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Published: June 4, 2008
MIAMI - Miami-Dade County's public defender says his office plans to refuse most felony cases because state budget cuts mean his attorneys can't effectively cover their caseloads.
Bennett Brummer argues his attorneys are constitutionally obligated to provide adequate legal representation. He says they can't do that because the budget cuts leave his office short-staffed and underfunded.
His office would refuse most felony cases, except for first-degree murder and capital sexual battery cases. Public defenders also would continue taking cases in juvenile and misdemeanor court.
A spokesman for the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office says they haven't received official notification of the plan.
Gov. Charlie Crist says Brummer's office was notified last year about the budget cuts.
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