Dozens of criminal cases are being dismissed in Massachusetts and other states as public defenders refuse to take on new cases until they get a pay raise.

From Oregon to Massachusetts, states are struggling to maintain a roster of attorneys to take on public defense cases. The ...

The current appropriations marks for the federal public defender program are more than $100 million short of what they need to be to keep the system functioning.

The role of public defender “is meant to ensure that no defendant is denied their right to an attorney, which is provided under the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution,” according to Justia.com.