245 | Travis Finck: On the Brink of a Crisis, What can Be Done to Save North Dakota Public Defense?

Today, Hunter sat down with once again with Travis Finck, the Executive Director of the North Dakota Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents. This time, we discuss the precarious place that Public Defense is in the state. With major staffing shortfalls, the full time Public Defenders have massive vacancy rates, and with low contract pay, there are only so many private counsels willing to take on attorneys. What can be done to avert a crisis?  Hopefully it starts with the legislatures recent realization that there just might be a crisis if they continue to do nothing.   Guests: Travis Finck, Executive Director, North Dakota Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents Resources: Link to Legislative Meeting with Video, Presentation and Report (video starts at 2:28) https://ndlegis.gov/events/2024/03/07/judiciary-committee News Coverage of the Issues https://northdakotamonitor.com/2024/03/14/public-defenders-underpaid-overworked-north-dakota-report-says/ https://bismarcktribune.com/news/state-regional/crime-courts/public-defenders-underpaid-overworked-north-dakota-report-says/article_76910028-f819-11ee-a575-8f6da532994a.html ND CLCI Website https://www.indigents.nd.gov/     Contact Hunter Parnell:                                             [email protected]  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patron www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN  *As a reminder, any statements made on the show do not reflect the views or policies of the Colorado Office of the State Public Defender*