Wyoming
The state of Wyoming administers indigent defense services in adult criminal trials for some court levels. Local governments are responsible for other court levels. The state and local governments share funding obligations, including state funding for some court levels and local funding for other court levels. The state has no commission providing oversight of services.
The state of Wyoming administers all indigent defense services for adult criminal cases in its appellate court. The state is the primary funder of services, with local governments contributing some costs. A state agency administers services across the state. The state has no commission providing oversight of the agency.
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23 Counties Primarily State Funded
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23 Counties Primarily State Administered
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23 Counties with No Commission and Limited Authority
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23 Counties Primarily State Funded
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23 Counties State Administered
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23 Counties with No Commission, But Statewide Authority
The state of Wyoming funds and administers indigent defense services in district and circuit courts, and the state requires municipalities to fund and administer services in municipal courts. For state-administered services, Wyoming law requires that indigent defense be 85% state-funded and 15% county-funded. The state appropriates all necessary funding and then bills each county for its prorated share. For locally administered services, municipalities must fund any representation provided in municipal court and cannot contract with the state to provide services.
The Wyoming Office of the State Public Defender (OSPD) provides trial-level adult criminal representation through public defender offices primarily and contracts with private attorneys in conflict cases. The agency also handles juvenile, appellate, and post-conviction cases. When OSPD is unavailable due to conflict or overflow, local judges are authorized to appoint counsel. The governor appoints the state public defender to lead OSPD and oversee state-administered services. The state does not have a commission providing oversight of the agency, and the state lacks oversight of counsel appointed by local judges or services in municipal courts.
The Wyoming Office of the State Public Defender (OSPD) administers all indigent defense services in adult appeals. OSPD provides appellate representation through its appellate division. The state agency also handles adult trial, juvenile, and post-conviction representation. When OSPD is unavailable due to conflict or overflow, local judges are statutorily authorized to appoint counsel.
Wyoming law requires that OSPD representation be 85% state-funded and 15% county-funded. The state appropriates all necessary funding and then bills each county for its prorated share. The governor appoints the state public defender to lead OSPD and oversee all state-administered services. The state does not have a commission providing oversight of the agency, and the state lacks oversight of counsel appointed by local judges.
Dig Deeper
How do the state and counties share indigent defense funding?
In which branch of state government does the indigent defense system reside?
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Criminal justice issues that disproportionately harm poor people, such as wrongful convictions and over-incarceration, cannot be fixed if indigent defendants are given attorneys who do not have the time, resources, or qualifications, to be a constitutional check on government. Yet, investment in improving indigent defense services remains largely neglected. The Sixth Amendment Center is the only nonprofit organization in the country that exclusively examines, uncovers, and helps fix the root of the indigent defense crisis in which inequality is perpetuated because poor defendants do not get a fair fight.
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