Re: “WA appeals court says counties can sue state for public defense funding” (Aug. 4, Native Information):
Nowhere is the necessity for extra public defender sources extra obvious than in our struggling behavioral-health system. Newly created hospital beds for the therapy of extreme habit and mental-health points sit empty as a result of we lack the authorized sources to help involuntary dedication.
Whereas our Washington State Lawyer Common’s Workplace employs almost 800 attorneys, King County lacks the general public defenders essential to take those that are a menace to themselves and the neighborhood off the streets and into therapy.
In our state, suing the federal authorities takes precedence over saving lives.
Bob Stevens, Seattle
