The Poverty of Defense
A Snohomish murder trial hit a sudden snag when the defendant's lawyer quit after the family ran out of funds, forcing the judge to appoint local counsel to an 'unprofitable' case.
At Judge Denny's court yesterday great interest centered in the appointment of counsel in the Robinson murder case. James Hamilton Lewis, who defended Robinson in the former case, sent a positive refusal to have anything further to do with the case, the family's money having given out. Local attorneys were in consequence loth to accept the unprofitable case. Frater and Allan, of the Snohomish bar, were finally appointed by Judge Denny and the case will be heard tomorrow. Public opinion is much against the defendant.
“Local attorneys were in consequence loth to accept the unprofitable case.”
This case highlights the enduring struggle of the American public defense system, where the quality of one's legal representation is often dictated by personal wealth rather than the severity of the charges.
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