Hunter
01/12/23
Iowa Supreme Court Justice Susan Christensen gave her annual condition of the judiciary address Wednesday, and said a growing shortage of court reporters and contract attorneys has slowed the wheels of justice.
The Gazette reports that Christensen discussed how the court reporter process affects every aspect of the judicial process and how new court reporters aren’t being certified fast enough to replace those retiring from the profession. She announced the establishment of a committee to look into the issue, and Christensen hopes to have recommendations by next year’s condition of the judiciary address.
Contract attorneys are called on to represent Iowans who can’t afford a lawyer. Judge Christensen said the shortage has been caused by overworked court-appointed lawyers who start to turn down cases, defendants having as many as five attorneys cycling through during a case and attorneys facing extreme travel schedules.
Those two main issues are the reason Christensen said the federal and state constitutional obligation to provide counsel to those who can’t afford one is, in her words, “on the verge of snapping.” She also mentioned the alcohol abuse issue among the legal profession, citing research that suggests lawyers abuse alcohol at rates 50 to 80 percent higher than average.
The Judge is advocating for increased funding for indigent defense, and reimbursement for appointed attorney’s travel expenses.