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Pennsylvania House of Representatives
10/19/2024 02:11 AM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?SPick=20230&chamber=H&cosponId=42364
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House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: March 25, 2024 03:19 PM
From: Representative Napoleon J. Nelson
To: All House members
Subject: Financial Analysis of the Office of Attorney General, District Attorneys, and Public Defenders
 


Funded with state and federal resources, our Attorney General’s Office, District Attorneys’ offices, and public defender’s offices play a critical role in ensuring justice and transparency in Pennsylvania.  Fighting to end unscrupulous and deceptive practices, whether on a state or personal level, the Attorney General and District Attorneys often come up against large companies protecting themselves through private practices or corporate law firms.  With the legal landscape changing every day, it is essential that our legal experts are provided with the funding and tools to successfully fight for our state and its citizens. 
 
Reports have come in noting staffing shortages in District Attorney and Public Defender offices all across the state due, in part, to salaries that can't compete with the private sector. To ensure these offices are receiving the funding they need, I will be introducing a resolution requiring the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study and compare the available financial resources provided to our Attorney General, District Attorneys and public defenders.  This study would assess the adequacy of funding for state-related attorneys against private practice and corporate defense firms, allowing us to identify if there are any steps we could take to better support these individuals when involved in litigation against powerful private actors or when defending indigent individuals. 
 
As legislators, we must recognize the importance of providing a consistently solid foundation for state law specialists to stand on while practicing.  Please join me in co-sponsoring this commonsense study to identify and assist our Attorney General, District Attorneys, and public defenders in protecting the everyday Pennsylvanians they are fighting for. 



Introduced as HR508