The recent budget bill passed by the New York State legislature has a provision that caps the caseload for public defenders in New York City. The New York Times writes that

Under the law, New York State’s chief administrative judge would be required to establish new caseload standards for public defenders by April 1, 2010. The judiciary would then have four years to phase in the limits and ensure proper funding. Despite the state’s grim economic condition, the judiciary’s budget for the current fiscal year remained stable at $2.57 billion.

Public defenders in large cities hope that this law serves as a model for the rest of the country. Read the rest of the story here.