Charter Amendment No. 1 would amend the King County charter to create a department of public defense. The amendment is part of the process -- following a class-action lawsuit regarding benefits -- of making public defenders county employees, rather than contracting with non-profit corporations to provide that service.
Supporters say this step is necessary to implement a new public-defense structure resulting from a the lawsuit’s settlement agreement. Public defenders became county employees July 1, requiring restructuring of the system.
There is no organized opposition to the amendment, and no statement against it was provided to the county.
