To: Indiana Supreme Court
Say No to Prosecutors/Attorney General picking State Public Defender
The selection committee for the new State Public Defender includes representatives of the attorney general’s office, prosecuting attorneys, and trial judges. The Board of IPDC strongly believes that opposing counsel and the judges' State PD’s practice in front of have a direct and apparent conflict of interest and should not be involved at all in the selection process. We hope you agree and will sign to show your agreement.
Why is this important?
WHEREAS; the Deputy State Public Defenders litigate against Deputy Prosecutors, we, the undersigned, believe that there is an inherent conflict in prosecutors or their representatives participating in the selection, hiring or retention process for the State Public Defender and strongly object to any such participation.
WHEREAS; the Deputy State Public Defenders litigate against Deputy Attorneys General, we, the undersigned, believe that there is an inherent conflict in the Indiana State Attorney General or his representative participating in the selection, hiring or retention process for the State Public Defender and strongly object to any such participation.
WHEREAS; there is a consensus among legal organizations and scholars that trial judges should not be involved in the selection, hiring or retention of public defenders practicing before them we, the undersigned, do not believe that trial judges or their representative should participate in the selection, hiring or retention process for the State Public Defender and strongly object to any such participation.
WHEREAS; the Deputy State Public Defenders litigate against Deputy Attorneys General, we, the undersigned, believe that there is an inherent conflict in the Indiana State Attorney General or his representative participating in the selection, hiring or retention process for the State Public Defender and strongly object to any such participation.
WHEREAS; there is a consensus among legal organizations and scholars that trial judges should not be involved in the selection, hiring or retention of public defenders practicing before them we, the undersigned, do not believe that trial judges or their representative should participate in the selection, hiring or retention process for the State Public Defender and strongly object to any such participation.