Thu Jul 17 12:10:00 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

Federal criminal defense attorneys, known as panel attorneys, who represent indigent defendants are facing a pay freeze due to the federal program funding their salaries running out of money. This could leave them unpaid until October. This lapse in funding impacts the constitutional right of defendants to legal representation and forces attorneys to choose between taking cases and paying their bills. Senator Shaheen has called for a solution.

**News Article:**

**Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys Face Pay Freeze, Threatening Access to Justice**

**[City, State] –** Federal criminal defense attorneys who represent indigent clients are facing a major financial crisis, with many potentially going without pay until October. The program that funds their work has run out of money, leading to a pay freeze for panel attorneys who are appointed to represent defendants who cannot afford legal counsel.

These attorneys are crucial to upholding the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees every defendant the right to an attorney. The situation is particularly concerning because many of these attorneys represent clients facing serious prison sentences.

“These are lawyers who have clients who are facing, oftentimes, decades in prison, who do this work because they believe in what they do, and to have them force these lawyers to have to make decisions between taking these cases versus paying their bills is sad and upsetting,” said criminal defense attorney Chuck Keefe.

The funding shortfall affects the Judicial Branch Defenders Program, which relies on congressional appropriations to pay panel attorneys. With the money depleted, lawyers may be forced to turn down cases, potentially impacting the ability of defendants to receive adequate legal representation.

Senator Jeanne Shaheen has called for immediate action to address the funding gap, stating that it is essential that attorneys who uphold the constitutional rights of federal defendants are compensated for their work. Legal experts say New Hampshire’s size may prevent defendants from being left without counsel, but they have not confirmed. The long-term effects of the pay freeze will need to be addressed.

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