Feature Article
About Washington Indigent Defense

Structure In Washington, the responsibility for the design and administration of the trial level indigent defense system is left to the counties. Most of the counties employ contract systems and many of these contracts provide a flat fee for taking all the indigent defense cases that arise.

Funding In Washington, the majority of funding for indigent defense comes from the counties. Appellate costs are paid by the state.

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News of Interest
Grant County Lawsuit


Grant County Lawsuit

In April 2004, the ACLU of Washington filed a class action lawsuit against Grant County, Washington alleging systemic denials of the right to counsel and seeking injunctive relief to ensure effective assistance is provided to future indigent defendants in the county.

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Report On Indigent Defnese In Washingtont


Report On Indigent Defnese In Washington

In 2004, the ACLU of Washington published a report entitled The Unfulfilled Promise of Gideon: Washington’s Flawed System for the Defense of the Poor.

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National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)
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