KY: tell me about it

Caseload increases take toll on defenders, justice

Scott West knows being a public defender is a burn-out job. But preventing burn out of the lawyers he supervises is complicated by the state's growing number of people accused of crimes who can't afford a private attorney...

"I believe in what I do. I think everyone should have good representation," said West, directing attorney for the Murray DPA office that covers Calloway, Marshall and Graves counties. "I can see how people can burn out, but I don't have the luxury of giving them a light enough case load to keep them from getting burned out."