March 27th, 2024-CLEVELAND,Ohio-Local and statewide advocates are urging the Ohio Public Defender Commission to investigate the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court’s assigned-counsel system. They have expressed concerns about the court’s case-assignment process and whether private attorneys representing children in serious cases are qualified.
These advocates argue that the court’s practices are not in line with state law, which mandates an equal distribution of cases through a “rotary” system. They point out that many cases are disproportionately assigned to a select group of attorneys. The advocates, including organizations like The Children’s Law Center and the NAACP Cleveland, emphasize the importance of ensuring that all children receive excellent legal representation, whether through public defenders or private attorneys.
Additionally, they criticize the influence of judges in attorney selection and question the effectiveness of proposed changes by the court. The advocates call for greater transparency and accountability in the assignment process to uphold the rights of children facing legal proceedings.
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