Washington public defense funding and attorney shortages

Washington’s public defense system faces funding challenges and too few attorneys. This list of stories illustrates several common issues, including the strain on counties, even after the state doubled its funding. Plans to lower public defender caseloads, such as those backed by the Washington State Bar Association, mean even more attorneys are needed.

Articles discuss a shortage of new lawyers going into public defense, low pay and high workloads leading to burnout, and calls for state-level action and support. Both rural and urban areas mention backlogs, attorney shortages and delays for defendants.

Yakima County Judge Shane Silverthorn discusses a case to a defendant at a Yakima County Jail courtroom on Tuesday, March 25, 2025 in Yakima, Wash. There were no public defenders available to represent the defendant. Jake Parrish for InvestigateWest

NO. 1: WA LEGISLATURE DOUBLES PUBLIC DEFENSE FUNDS. COUNTIES SAY IT’S STILL NOT ENOUGH

Counties have struggled to recruit and retain attorneys without the state’s help. | Published May 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Aspen Ford

Public defender Nick Ainslie speaks with clients at Pierce County Superior Court, on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Tacoma, Wash. The proposed changes to public defense standards that the state Supreme Court is considering could potentially necessitate triple the staffing and funding the Department of Assigned Counsel has now. By Brian Hayes

NO. 2: WOULD OVERHAUL OF WA’S PUBLIC DEFENSE LEAD TO BETTER OUTCOMES OR ‘VIGILANTE LAND’?

The state bar association proposes drastically cutting back case loads for public defenders, an expensive proposition with potential negative consequences. | Published August 19, 2024 | Read Full Story by Peter Talbot

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NO. 3: WASHINGTON STATE BAR ASSOCIATION OKS FAR LOWER CASELOADS FOR PUBLIC DEFENDERS

“Public defense is in crisis right now.” | Published March 15, 2024 | Read Full Story by The Associated Press

Jury box in the historic courtroom at the Franklin County Courthouse in Pasco. By Bob Brawdy

NO. 4: UPDATE: WA PUBLIC DEFENSE CRISIS ‘FIX’ WILL BANKRUPT COUNTIES, SAY FRANKLIN OFFICIALS

“The system is on the verge of collapse .... At some point, we simply will not be able to pay the bills anymore.” | Published March 8, 2024 | Read Full Story by Cameron Probert

NO. 5: WA DEFENSE ATTORNEY CRISIS ‘BAND-AID’ IS FAILING. TRI-CITIES PLEADS FOR STATE HELP

“This isn’t just a Franklin County or Benton County issue. This is affecting all 39 counties within the state.” | Published May 15, 2023 | Read Full Story by Cameron Probert

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.