Suit claims public defenders too busy to defend | Seattle Times Newspaper

P.D. Sybrandy denies his work is substandard

Local News | Skagit County suit claims public defenders too busy to defend | Seattle Times Newspaper: "MOUNT VERNON, Skagit County — Approximately 1,000 misdemeanor cases cross the desk each year of public defender Richard Sybrandy, a volume that is more than double what the state bar says is a reasonable amount.

But as staggering as that caseload is, it is only about half of Sybrandy's total workload. In addition to being a contracted public defender for Mount Vernon and Burlington, he maintains a private practice of criminal cases.

His workload is so large, in fact, that an unusual class-action lawsuit filed last week in Skagit County accuses Mount Vernon and Burlington of violating defendants' constitutionally protected right to counsel"