Hancock County’s chief public defender is still waiting to hear from county council members about whether his department’s administrative assistants will get pay raises this year.

Contract counsel has been a more cost-effective method providing public defense services here in Vermont, yet grossly underpaying these firms leads to turnover. Private prices may be more ...

"They feel strongly that the failure of the public defense system should not go onto the backs of community and public safety." Dalton spoke before a committee of lawmakers during a hearing about ...