I thought in Miranda rights they say "if you cannot afford an attorney one will be appointed for you." So what happens now to people accused who cannot afford a lawyer if public defenders are allowed to turn away clients? Maybe the case mentioned with the private attorney that was dropped was b/c the man could not afford to keep paying him? Lawyers are one of the most expensive professionals out there, you have to have thousands just to retain one, and then the hourly fees, etc..and they don't accept payments either. Maybe I don't understand the law but I thought a public defender HAS to be provided when the client cannot secure a private attorney. Not that public defenders do much to even try to help their clients but at least it's some kind of representation. I'd love to hear more about the legal issues concerning this.

This sounds like all the rest of the nation that is dumping on the poor people. If you don't have money...you don't count. God help ALL (national and state) of you lawmakers who decide who should be validated and who should not. The Golden Rule is "do unto others as you would have them do unto you." All lawmakers have made money their god.