Montana Public Defense has seen a lot in the 21st century. A lawsuit in the early aughts lead to massive changes and the creation of the state public defender system. Now almost 20 years later, the Montana Public Defense system is still only treading water. Driven by an shortage of attorneys around the state and severe under pay, the system is looking for new, innovative ways to stay afloat. Joining Hunter to discuss these newer data driven approaches is Brett Schandelson, Director of the State Public Defender. With so few attorneys in so much of the state, the challenges ahead of Brett and his team are immense, but the changes he is implementing just might be what saves Public Defense in Montana.

 

 

Guests:

Brett Schandelson, Director, Montana Office of the State Public Defender

 

 

Resources:

Office of the State Public Defender

https://publicdefender.mt.gov/

Case Refusal Yellowstone County

https://apnews.com/article/courts-montana-billings-5c9b515e281d4f53ca02bc4880226bf8

Broken Defense Coverage of Montana Public Defense

https://missoulian.com/news/national/unconstitutional-public-defense-systems-upend-lives-freedom-across-west/article_22b17815-34f2-5798-a6a4-6d537e6a9886.html

 

Contact Hunter Parnell:

[email protected] 

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