The Texas Indigent Defense Commission has approved more than $1.8 million in targeted grants aimed at strengthening indigent defense systems across the state as counties grapple with a growing attorney shortage, particularly in rural counties.
The number of lawyers handling indigent defense cases in rural Texas declined 29 percent between 2014 and 2024, TIDC Executive Director Scott Ehlers said.
“That decline is making it difficult for many counties to provide counsel to indigent defendants and juveniles as required by the U.S. and Texas Constitutions,” Ehlers said.
TIDC, led by 14 commission members and 22 staff, funds and oversees indigent defense systems in each of Texas’ 254 counties.
The commission also adopted a $20.5 million Fiscal Year 2027 Formula Grant Program to assist all counties with the cost of providing indigent defense services.
According to a news release, the grants include:
• $639,997 to the Lone Star Defenders Office to create the Brooks County Managed Assigned Counsel (MAC) Office and establish a two-year rural investigator pilot project serving Brooks and Jim Wells counties.
• $1 million to Potter County for a two-year pilot project expanding the Panhandle Managed Assigned Counsel program to provide court-appointed legal representation in child protection cases across 21 counties: Armstrong, Bailey, Briscoe, Carson, Collingsworth, Childress, Dallam, Deaf Smith, Donley, Floyd, Gray, Hall, Hartley, Hemphill, Lipscomb, Motley, Oldham, Parmer, Roberts, Sherman and Wheeler.
• $150,000 to Trinity County to cover extraordinary indigent defense costs associated with a high profile capital murder trial.
• $11,940 to the Texas Rio Grande Public Defender to increase a Temporary Assistance for Rural Programs grant, bringing the total award to $284,259.
The Commission also approved 24 legislative proposals ahead of the Texas legislative session beginning in January – seven related to representation in child protection cases and 17 focused on criminal and juvenile matters. The proposals include measures aimed at improving representation and ensuring access to counsel in child protection cases, as well as expanding TIDC’s ability to assist counties and strengthen indigent defense systems.
“Improving public defense means making sure counties have the capacity to provide representation without unnecessary delays,” said Nueces County District Judge Missy Medary, TIDC Board Chair and Presiding Judge of the 5th Administrative Judicial Region. “When attorney shortages delay cases, the impact is felt by defendants, counties, and courts. These investments help counties strengthen their systems and improve the delivery of indigent defense services across Texas.”