public_defense_caseloads_062425Public Defense
Caseloads
6/24/25
•Felony –47 case credits
•Misdemeanor –120 case credits
•Civil Commitment –250 case credits
Caseload Standards
•Phasing permitted
•10% progress per year from current standards
•Full compliance by 2036
Phasing
•The Court did not adopt mandatory case
count/weighting standards
•County departments must adopt policies that
comply with existing rules
•If no policies are adopted, actual case counts
will be used.
Case Count/Weighting
Case Weighting/Credits –“Assigns higher and
lower values or weighted case credits to assigned
cases based on the amount of time that is typically
required to provide effective representation.” -
WSBA
Case Count/Weighting
•Effectively negates the increase from $10.3m to
$27.2m in the state budget
•Roughly triples the direct cost
•Indirect costs will be more
•The order is distinct from our ongoing litigation
related to public defense
Analysis
•WSAC should implement a more aggressive
communications push to engage the public.
•Ask the Governor and Legislative leadership to
call a special session to address immediate
impacts.
Staff Recommendation
•Public legal workforce development must be a
top priority for the Legislature
•Consider support for a State operated public
defense department similar to Idaho and
Oregon
Staff Recommendation