Gov. Kathy Hochul, whose proposed budget could significantly reduce access to legal representation for low-income New Yorkers, sparking widespread concern among legal aid organizations.
Photo: Stefan Jeremiah/AP
Legal services organizations across New York are rallying against a proposed budget measure that would redirect $234 million from the Indigent Legal Services Fund (ILSF) to the state’s general fund.
The Chief Defenders Association of New York, alongside more than 70 public defense and legal service groups, including the Brooklyn Defender Services, has formally appealed to Gov. Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, emphasizing the necessity of these funds in providing essential legal representation to low-income residents.
“The ILS fund was created to ensure equity, justice, quality representation and family unification for indigent New Yorkers,” said a statement put out by the legal aid services. “The proposed sweep of $234 million undermines these goals and sets a dangerous precedent that will harm New Yorkers who depend on public defense. We collectively urge Governor Hochul, Assembly Speaker Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins to instead appropriate the funds in the ILSF for their intended purpose of improving public defense throughout New York State.”
The outcry follows the governor’s decision to abandon a similar plan that would have cut $100 million from the IOLA Fund, which supports civil legal services. The proposed sweep of the ILSF — crucial for enhancing the quality of public defense in criminal and family courts — remains a contentious issue despite the Senate’s rejection of the move and its push for increased public defense funding. The Assembly and governor have yet to announce their stance.
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