When the Sixth Amendment Center came to Indiana, it left no doubt that Public Defense in the state was failing. Now seven years later, almost nothing has changed. How can that be possible? To answer that question and exploring why Indiana’s Public Defender system is still failing, Hunter speaks with three Public Defenders, Ashley Spolarich, Deana Martin, and Joel Schumm, from Indiana.
Guests:
Ashley Spolarich, Chief Deputy Public Defender, Montgomery County Indiana
Deana Martin, Major Case/Forensic Attorney, Marion County
Professor Joel Schumm, Clincal Professor, Indiana Robert McKinney School of Law
Resources:
Sixth Amendment Center Report:
https://sixthamendment.org/indiana-stands-as-a-cautionary-tale-for-other-states-with-similar-indigent-defense-system-models/
Indiana Public Defender Task Force:
https://www.in.gov/publicdefender/publications/indiana-task-force-on-public-defense/#:~:text=The%20Indiana%20Task%20Force%20on%20Public%20Defense%20is%20chaired%20by,as%20various%20other%20stakeholder%20groups.
Indiana Workload Report:
https://www.in.gov/publicdefender/files/The-Indiana-Project_FINAL.pdf
Lawsuits in various counties in the state:
Johnson County: https://www.theindianalawyer.com/articles/45762-coa-affirms-dismissal-of-johnson-county-public-defender-suit
(Docket: https://clearinghouse.net/case/15792/?docket_page=2#docket)
Indiana Lawyer Article on Shortage of Public Defenders:
https://www.theindianalawyer.com/articles/attorneys-hard-to-find-for-prosecutor-public-defender-openings-shortage-of-public-attorneys-leaves-offices-scrambling-to-manage-caseloads
Indiana Public Defender Council:
https://www.in.gov/ipdc/
