Mississippi Courts Won’t Say How They Provide Lawyers for Poor Clients

Mississippi 's public defense system is among the worst in the country.

It ranks last in how much money it spends per capita on public defense, a nonprofit says.

The 22nd Circuit Court in southwest Mississippi became the first to comply this summer .

Mississippi has long failed to monitor or evaluate local courts to see whether they’re delivering that defense.

Just seven counties have full-time public defender offices, but only 22nd Circuit Court has submitted a plan.

Mississippi Supreme Court approved the plan last month .

Judges are required to write down how they deliver on their obligation to provide lawyers for defendants who couldn’t afford one.

A judge in Guntown , Mississippi , says he does not appoint a public defender at the initial court appearance.

Mississippi Supreme Court recently issued another rule to improve public defense.

Critics call it the “dead zone” — the practice of withdrawing legal counsel from poor defendants after their initial appearance, leaving them without a lawyer.