MN: chopping block

So it begins. From Minnesota Lawyer Blog:

Public defenders cut 53 more jobs

The State Board of Public Defense voted on June 5 to cut the public defender work force by 15 percent across the state to meet its $3.8 million budget deficit... The board’s action means the loss of 69 full time equivalent public defenders at the District Court level, out of a total of 441 positions, and three appellate lawyers. The board also decided to cut public defender services by no longer representing parents in abuse and termination of parental rights cases...

See also the Red Star Tribune: State to pare the ranks of public defenders by 23 - A combination of a deficit and a cut in aid prompted the state to slash the 2009 public defender budget