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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Anthony Martone, Executive Director of Queens Defenders, on Public Defender Salary Increases
8:37:15
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Anthony Martone, Executive Director of Queens Defenders, advocates for a 25% salary increase for public defenders in New York City to improve retention and align compensation with recent increases for assigned counsel. He argues that public defenders' work is critical and increasingly complex due to discovery reforms, yet their pay remains inadequate compared to 18b assigned counsel rates.
- Martone highlights the disparity between public defender salaries and the recent 110% increase in 18b assigned counsel rates (from $75/hour to $158/hour).
- He emphasizes the comprehensive training and services public defenders provide, which go beyond legal representation to minimize recidivism.
- The testimony underscores the challenge of retaining experienced attorneys who often leave for more lucrative government jobs or join the 18b counsel plan after 3-4 years.
Anthony Martone
8:37:15
Good evening.
8:37:15
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to speak to you today to advocate for our city's public defenders and the thousands of residents we represent each day.
8:37:24
My name is Anthony Martone.
8:37:25
I'm the executive director of Queen's Defenders.
8:37:28
And today I'm calling out to New York City Council to support a 25% salary increase for public defenders.
8:37:34
This increase will bring our staff salaries closer to the recent increases in the 18 b assigned council plan and to aid in the retention of our staff.
8:37:44
Our attorneys are trained only not only to enhance legal skills, but also to represent our clients beyond the case itself and to use services for our offices creating opportunities for change which minimize recidivism.
8:37:56
This can only be done in a public defender office but it's become increasingly challenging to keep talented attorneys once we've invested in them.
8:38:04
Experienced attorneys often leave around the third or fourth year for more lucrative government jobs or to join the 18 b council plan, which recently has received an increase in hourly compensation from $75 an hour to $158 an hour.
8:38:20
That's a hundred and 10 percent increase that aligns with the federal assigned council and meets the minimum wage requirement to maintain effective counsel for indigent New Yorkers.
8:38:31
An 18 b attorney billing thirty five hours a week, which is modest, makes over 100 and 2 hundred and 80 7 thousand dollars a year.
8:38:40
Public defenders compensation on the other hand is woefully inadequate.
8:38:44
18 b's increased hourly rate is both for felonies and for misdemeanors.
8:38:49
Supreme Court judges knowing this usually usually give enhanced rates for felonies up to $200 an hour as they realize misdemeanor attorneys are getting paid the same.
8:39:02
When governor, Hochul increased the 18 b rate, she acknowledged that it was a fair rate and she also said this is absolutely a need.
8:39:10
The work we do is the work they do is critical.
8:39:13
Since discovery reforms, attorneys spend countless hours combing through combing through gigabytes of data and watching hours upon hours of body worn cameras.
8:39:22
All defense attorneys spend much more time on each case.
8:39:25
The difference is 18 b counsel bill for each hour when we do not.
8:39:30
We urge the city council to increase the funding for public defenders to include a 25% salary increase for the critical work they do for New York City's residents and to provide the city with a more cost effective option for representing clients who cannot afford an attorney.
8:39:45
This this increase would demonstrate the value of their work, the lives they change, the vital role they play in New York City's criminal system and simultaneously support the retention of high quality staff our organization spends years of training and developing.
8:40:00
Thank you.