One attempt at solving the indigent defense problem was the creation of a state agency made up of five offices to be called Offices of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel (“OCCCRC”) by the Florida Legislature in Chapter 2007-62. The idea was that full-time attorneys on a set salary in these new regional offices would theoretically solve at least part of the judicial appointment problem by taking on public defender cases where there was a conflict of interest (which is common in multi-defendant cases) — as well as supervising court-appointed attorneys in child dependency cases and assorted civil actions. Sounded good.

Truth is, the OCCCRC lawyers haven’t even been given a fair shake, they’ve been asked to play the game without a full deck of cards. The OCCCRCs aren’t even getting the basics to do their job.

For example, the Fourth District OCCCRC has complained that it doesn’t even have ordinary supplies and internet access for months at a time. In today’s world, how can an attorney represent a client effectively without internet access? Legal research, communication and filing with the courts, e-mail, etc. are all done over the internet. How any lawyer at the OCCCRC can practice law each day is a miracle in action, and my hat is off to them. No wonder there’s such a high turnover there.

And, adding insult to injury, these OCCCRCs are being sued. That’s right – they have become defendants in their own right. Apparently, several counties throughout Florida have taken the position that OCCCRCs are not “public defender offices” at all under Florida law. Using this legal argument, counties aren’t legally responsible to pay for the expenses of their local OCCCRC (pursuant to Article V, section 14 of the Florida Constitution).
Continue Reading In-Depth Look at the Law: The Offices of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel (OCCCRC) – An Unacceptable Situation for Everyone Involved