US House Panel Rejects Bid to Increase Defender Funding

The House Appropriations Committee narrowly rejected a proposal to address a shortfall in funding for court-appointed criminal defense attorneys, prompting some members to warn that ignoring the gap would further slow the justice system.

The panel late on Wednesday voted 31-30 against the amendment offered by Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) to a larger government funding measure that was approved for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.

Ivey stressed before the vote that the nearly $200 million he sought would go to pay public defenders and investigators for work that’s already been done and is constitutionally required to ensure criminal defendants ...