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Big shoes; News briefs
By NACDL Staff
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Indigent Defense columns.
Big Shoes. That’s what I think about when I come to work in the morning.
That’s what comes to mind when I think about Kate Jones and the work
she did as NACDL’s Indigent Defense Counsel over the past three years.
Kate’s little feet left incredibly big shoes to fill.
Before she left, I followed Kate around for two weeks. I reviewed
files and projects that she created. I tagged along behind her at
meetings. I heard giants in the indigent defense community get choked up
and teary-eyed as they spoke of Kate’s dedication, accomplishments and
integrity.
I am inspired by what I’ve heard, by all that Kate has done. And I am incredibly honored to be following in her footsteps.
My first trial was a $100 court-appointed juvenile case in Alexandria,
Virginia. By the end of the trial, I had earned less than $1.50
an hour.
The realities of representing indigent clients were daunting.
Unwaivable fee caps. Vouchers being cut. Delayed payments, sometimes for
months at a time.
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