Washingtons Supreme Court slashes public defender caseload limits
The Washington Supreme Court reduced public defender caseload limits to address a crisis in the state's public defense system. Effective January 1, 2026, defenders will handle a maximum of 47 felony or 120 misdemeanor cases annually, down from 150 and 400, respectively. This decision highlights the ongoing struggles of the public defense system, exacerbated by funding shortages and a lack of available lawyers.