re: This is a very smart move by LA ...

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I didn't realize Louisiana was that bad off.

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The state funds the Public Defenders Offices and the DA's, but the DA's also get local funding and a cut of ticket and fine revenue as well as a share of proceeds from police auctions and civil asset forfieture. DA's have the police to investigate for them. Public Defenders don't even have the budget to spend more than 5 minutes with their clients before their trial date let alone hire private investigators to investigate the facts of the case. Crime labs are paid by the DA's, and have an incentive to give positive results in order to maintain business.

DA's make a decent living for a government employee and rarely work more than 50 hours in a week. Public Defenders work 80 hours of week for next to nothing.

Basically, if you're accused of a crime in Louisiana and have to use a public defender, the most they will be able to do for you is ask to take a plea bargain and maybe raise a blatantly obvious objection during a trial if you refuse to take the offered plea. They literally do not have the time or budget to do anything else.