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Spokane County's Defense Funding Crisis | Fort Wayne News
Spokane County is eyeing nearly a million dollars in state grant money to bolster its public defense system, as new court-mandated caseload limits loom by 2036 — an unfunded burden that’s already straining county budgets. The grant, running from July 2026 to June 2027, would fund hiring, salary boosts, and system reviews — but with strict rules: no replacing existing funds or covering admin or interpreter costs. Tensions are rising as the county covers 96% of public defense costs, and the Public Defender’s Office director has sued, claiming the county’s compliance plan misrepresents workload…
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