Not that it ever was big money, but being a public defender in New York just doesn’t pay like it used to. Waves of public defenders have left because of low wages. Now, the wages are no where to be found! No, seriously — public defenders keep getting their checks stolen from them. The ABA Journal has coverage:
Six people have been charged with depositing stolen checks intended to pay court-appointed lawyers representing indigent defendants in federal cases in New York.
The charges are part of an ongoing investigation into “the widespread theft and depositing of checks” issued to people involved in the criminal justice system, according to a Feb. 7 press release by U.S. Attorney Breon Peace of the Eastern District of New York.
Of all the people to rob, a public defender? Really? Assuming they get appointed counsel, it would suck if they are assigned one of the people that they stole from. If you’re gonna be out here committing wire fraud, leave the people trying to keep your ass out of jail alone. Maybe try a bank instead? By the way, this is not legal advice.
Court-Appointed Lawyers Are Victims Of Stolen Check Schemes, Prosecutors Say; 6 People Charged [ABA Journal]
Chris Williams became a social media manager and assistant editor for Above the Law in June 2021. Prior to joining the staff, he moonlighted as a minor Memelord™ in the Facebook group Law School Memes for Edgy T14s. He endured Missouri long enough to graduate from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. He is a former boatbuilder who cannot swim, a published author on critical race theory, philosophy, and humor, and has a love for cycling that occasionally annoys his peers. You can reach him by email at cwilliams@abovethelaw.com and by tweet at @WritesForRent.