Massachussetts Lawyer shortage for Poor Defendants is seen easing

A justice of the state Supreme Judicial Court said yesterday that a critical shortage of private lawyers willing to represent indigent criminal defendants in Hampden County appeared to be abating. Justice Francis X. Spina said that judges in the county have informed him that more private lawyers have come forward to represent poor defendants since he held a hearing Aug. 23 about the shortage, which stems from an ongoing pay dispute. The Legislature has since tentatively approved a $7.50 hourly increase in the pay rate but has yet to pass a supplemental spending bill to fund it. With the increase, the pay scale would range from $37.50 to $61.50 an hour, depending on the seriousness of cases. [more ]