Arkansas: Public defender eyes 25% boost in spending

The executive director of the Arkansas Public Defender Commission asked legislators for a 25 percent increase in the annual budget to $15 million.

Didi Sailings told the Joint Budget Committee and Legislative Council the governor's proposal of a $12 million budget was inadequate.

"We are dangerously close to becoming constitutionally suspect," said Sailings, who asked for 59 new positions.

When the state took over funding of the public defender system in 1997, there were 127 positions funded by county quorum courts. The legislature budgeted only 104 positions. Some quorum courts have made up the difference.