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Improving Access to Legal Defense and Support for Public Defenders

This act aims to strengthen the right to legal defense in criminal cases by ensuring better access to public defenders. It introduces new rules for collecting data on public defenders' workloads, sets workload limits, and seeks to equalize public defenders' salaries with those of prosecutors. Citizens can expect fairer trials and higher quality legal assistance, especially if they cannot afford a private attorney.
Key points
Increased financial support for states and local governments to improve the quality of legal defense.
Mandatory data collection on public defenders' workloads to establish reasonable case limits per attorney.
Equalization of compensation for public defenders, their investigators, and paralegals with prosecutors in similar roles.
Increased funding for public defender training and higher student loan repayment limits for public defense attorneys.
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Expired
Citizen Poll
No votes cast
Additional Information
Print number: 117_HR_1408
Sponsor: Rep. Deutch, Theodore E. [D-FL-22]
Process start date: 2021-02-26
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Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20
Source data: api.congress.gov
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OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

EQUAL Defense Act of 2021

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 117_HR_1408.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the House of Representatives.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2021-02-26.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Increased financial support for states and local governments to improve the quality of legal defense.
  • Mandatory data collection on public defenders' workloads to establish reasonable case limits per attorney.
  • Equalization of compensation for public defenders, their investigators, and paralegals with prosecutors in similar roles.
  • Increased funding for public defender training and higher student loan repayment limits for public defense attorneys.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Rep. Deutch, Theodore E. [D-FL-22].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-27.

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