In April, a study found that the outcomes for Travis County defendants with appointed attorneys in low-level felony drug cases was worse than for those who hire their own lawyers. The Texas Indigent Defense Commission recently recommended that the Travis County Commissioners Court create a public defender office.
The panel to discuss the need for such an office will include Amanda Woog, Executive Director of the Texas Fair Defense Project; Trudy Strassburger, Senior Legal Counsel at the Justice Collaborative Engagement Project; and Andrea Marsh, Clinical Lecturer and the Director of the Mithoff Pro Bono Program at the UT School of Law.
The event is sponsored by Liberal Austin Democrats, Texas Democrats for Progressive Courts, Austin Young Democrats, and Our Revolution Travis County. More information and registration online.
Location: Austin City Council Chambers, 301 W. 2nd St., Austin.