Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick plans to add a new department that will employ up to 1,500 workers. The new department would replace the state's current public defenders system by making lawyers salaried employees. Around 3,000 lawyers currently work as public defenders in Massachusetts and are paid hourly wages. The new plan calls for 1,000 lawyers to be hired and up to 500 support staff. Cr tics say that adding state workers will only cost the state money, citing pensions and benefits as added costs. The Governor's office estimates the plan will save $45 million. The plan also calls for a closer look at eligibility for free legal representation.
See "Patrick's idea to make public defenders state workers draws fire", Colleen Quinn, The Boston Globe, January 24, 2011