During the Legislature’s Committee Assembly Days, AWC testified before senators about why cities need immediate state support for local public defenders.

In AWC’s testimony at the Senate Law & Justice Committee hearing, Government Relations Advocate Derrick Nunnally joined our colleagues from the Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC) to share how this year’s Washington Supreme Court caseload standard order will have immediate impacts on local governments’ already diminished ability to staff and fund public defense.

Watch the five-minute testimony

Our city legislative priority asks the Legislature to increase state support and funding for indigent defense services to meet existing needs and the new lower caseload mandates ordered by the Washington Supreme Court in June 2025. Cites are also seeking enhanced state support for increasing the indigent defense workforce with incentives and programs to encourage more public defenders.

To learn more, read our legislative fact sheet and share it with your legislators.

We will be working on this issue proactively during the legislative session that begins in January by meeting with legislators, testifying before committees, helping draft and edit bills, and reporting back to cities here in our Legislative Bulletin.

Reach out to us if you have any questions or would like to get involved.