When the Sixth Amendment Center came to Indiana, it left no doubt that Public Defense in the state was failing. Now seven years later, almost nothing has changed. How can that be possible? To answer that question and exploring why Indiana’s Public Defender system is still failing, Hunter spoke with three Public Defenders, Ashley Spolarich, Deana Martin, and Joel Schumm, from Indiana.

 

 

Guests:

Ashley Spolarich, Chief Deputy Public Defender, Montgomery County Indiana

Deana Martin, Major Case/Forensic Attorney, Marion County

Professor Joel Schumm, Clincal Professor, Indiana Robert McKinney School of Law

 

 

Resources:

Sixth Amendment Center Report

https://sixthamendment.org/indiana-stands-as-a-cautionary-tale-for-other-states-with-similar-indigent-defense-system-models/

Indiana Public Defender Task Force

https://www.in.gov/publicdefender/publications/indiana-task-force-on-public-defense/#:~:text=The%20Indiana%20Task%20Force%20on%20Public%20Defense%20is%20chaired%20by,as%20various%20other%20stakeholder%20groups.

Indiana Workload Report

https://www.in.gov/publicdefender/files/The-Indiana-Project_FINAL.pdf

Lawsuits in various counties in the state

·        Johnson County: https://www.theindianalawyer.com/articles/45762-coa-affirms-dismissal-of-johnson-county-public-defender-suit

·        Allen County: https://www.southbendtribune.com/story/news/crime/2016/01/06/suit-filed-against-allen-county-over-public-defender-system/46421583/

(Docket: https://clearinghouse.net/case/15792/?docket_page=2#docket)

Indiana Lawyer Article on Shortage of Public Defenders

https://www.theindianalawyer.com/articles/attorneys-hard-to-find-for-prosecutor-public-defender-openings-shortage-of-public-attorneys-leaves-offices-scrambling-to-manage-caseloads

Indiana Public Defender Council

https://www.in.gov/ipdc/

 

 

 

Contact Hunter Parnell:

[email protected] 

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