The Tennessee Supreme Court announced last week it is going to try to ratchet down the costs of providing attorneys for poor people, recommend a boost in pay for those lawyers, and lend its voice to a push for money to reform a broken system.
The high court in a news release detailed changes it wants to see in ensuring poor people are afforded legal representation that pass constitutional muster. Nearly all require buy-in from Tennessee lawmakers, who hold the purse strings.
The most notable recommendation was a boost from $40-$50 hourly pay for appointed lawyers to a flat $65 hourly rate, and a $500 boost in the $1,500 maximum those lawyers can earn on a case.
Read more at our news partner's website, knoxnews.com.