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Story perspectives

Federal Cases at Risk as Attorney Pool Dwindles

11/9/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Federal cases may be dismissed when defendants lack counsel.
This follows Congress's failure to fund the Criminal Justice Act in July.
The Los Angeles U.S. Attorney's Office issued a memo.
It allows judges to compel indigent defendants to be represented without pay if the representation is competent.
The pool of attorneys in the Central District of California has fallen from about 100 to under 20.

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Story summary

Federal cases may be dismissed when defendants lack counsel.
This follows Congress's failure to fund the Criminal Justice Act in July.
The Los Angeles U.S. Attorney's Office issued a memo.
It allows judges to compel indigent defendants to be represented without pay if the representation is competent.
The pool of attorneys in the Central District of California has fallen from about 100 to under 20.