381 | With a Shortage of Lawyers and Too Many Cases, Will New Mexico Public Defenders Need to Stop Taking New Cases? w/Ben Baur

Author: Hunter Parnell
Published: Tue 05 Aug 2025
Episode Link: http://sites.libsyn.com/387569/381-with-a-shortage-of-lawyers-and-too-many-cases-will-new-mexico-public-defenders-need-to-stop-taking-new-cases-wben-baur

Today, Hunter was joined once again by New Mexico’s Chief Public Defender, Ben Baur. A few years back, a workload study estimated that New Mexico had 1/3 of the public defenders it needed to meet its workload demands. At that time, the state set out on a five-year plan to address the staffing shortage. Unfortunately, the state has not stuck to the five-year plan. Now, with a shortage of attorneys in rural parts of the state, low pay for contract attorneys, and still too many cases, will the New Mexico public defenders have to stop taking new cases?

Guest:

Ben Baur, Chief Public Defender, New Mexico Law Offices of the Public Defender

Resources:

Contact the New Mexico Public Defender

https://www.lopdnm.us/offices/

New Mexico Resources

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nAHtHZaAmu6My2tL04Dn_HlLhy-HARuP?usp=sharing

New Mexico Workload Study

https://www.lopdnm.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/LOPD-Attorney-Workload-Study2.pdf

New Mexico Five Year Plan

https://www.lopdnm.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Final-Draft-LOPD-5-Year-Plan.pdf

Contact Hunter Parnell: