Northern Nevada Briefly 10/8
Northern Nevada Briefly 10/8Staff Writer Justice criticizes consultant's reportSupreme Court Chief Justice Jim Hardesty made it clear this week he wasn't pleased with the quality of a consultant's report on how to improve legal services the indigent get when charged with a crime.Nevada has been told by the bar association and study groups that the care indigents receive in the state is substandard and must be improved. The primary criticism is that public defenders have caseloads that are far too big and, therefore, can't devote adequate time to each case.The state paid the Spangenberg Group $215,000 to produce a report guiding their decision-making process.But Robert Spangenberg was unable to give the Supreme Court any specifics when he appeared at Tuesday's meeting."It was my belief the Spangenberg report would come forward and recommend caseload standards," Hardesty said. "For myself, here we are today with this report that offers the court no guidance whatsoever