Advisory Opinion:
1336
Year Issued:
1990
RPC(s):
RPC 1.1; 1.3; 5.1(a); 5.1(c)(1); 6.2
Subject:
Size of public defender caseload prevents effective representation
The Committee reviewed your inquiry concerning caseloads of lawyers in your public defender office. The Committee was of the opinion that RPCs 1.1, 1.3 and 6.2 require that a lawyer not accept case assignments that exceed the lawyer's ability to provide effective representation. The Committee was further of the opinion that the supervisor of a public defender office is obligated by those rules, as well as RPC 5.1(a) and (c)(1), to refuse to accept cases that would exceed the office's ability to provide effective representation.
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