Budget outline offers glimpse into potential price of adding trial work for state public defender

By: John Hult

Outlets: South Dakota Searchlight

Published: September 23, 2026

Words: 781

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 3 days ago

Body Text Preview

It could cost up to $697,000 a year for South Dakota’s state-level public defender to begin taking on trial-level cases in the state, an advisory committee heard on Wednesday.

The Office of Indigent Legal Services opened in 2024 with the hiring of a director, and expanded the following year to add four additional attorneys and a paralegal. At the moment, the office handles appeals in criminal and abuse and neglect cases.

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

FAQ

Email Us