San Francisco PD may begin contracting major felonies

San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi told his city’s leadership that if they don’t cough up $50k/year for two part-time paralegals he will ethically obligated to send homicides and major felonies out of the office at a cost of $120/hr. That would add more than $1 million to the City’s annual costs for indigent defense.

“We are the only department that is constitutionally mandated,” he said Wednesday. “The public defender’s office has a responsibility, and we are obligated to decline representation if we are not properly staffed.”

Hmm. $50k/year or more than $1 million? Not really a tough choice, eh, S.F.? Of course, the city says it’s more complicated than that….

UPDATE: It looks like the S.F. Public Defender is now in a pissing match with a city Supervisor.