KALAMAZOO (WKZO AM/FM) — What do Jeffrey Willis, Jason Dalton and Charles Pickett Jr. have in common, besides multiple murder counts.
All three have court appointed lawyers.
A report issued last year says Michigan has one of the worst records in the nation for supplying indigent representation.
In response the state has established new standards and is willing to partially fund them, butthe state is leaving it up to counties to pick the structure for their Public Defenders office,just as long as it meets the state’s criteria.
Kalamazoo County Attorney Amber Beebe is proposing they set up a non-profit which can raise money on its own just in case.
But not all commissioners are sold on that idea, and with the deadline a month away from todayfor submitting their plans, they will need to make some hard decisions quickly.
