Government Shutdown Ends, But Legal Services in Crisis

Sat Nov 15 2025 22:18:28 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The prolonged U.S. government shutdown has left federally funded defense lawyers and their clients grappling with financial and operational chaos as they face ongoing budgetary problems.

Following the conclusion of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, federally funded defense lawyers, paralegals, and various support staff continue to experience financial strain due to unpaid fees. The crisis, exacerbated by a funding shortfall in the Defender Services program, has resulted in halted legal proceedings, jeopardizing defendants' rights and extending their wait for legal representation as Congress navigates ongoing budgetary negotiations.

LOS ANGELES — The longest U.S. government shutdown in history has officially concluded, yet the ramifications continue to severely affect federally funded defense lawyers and the vulnerable individuals they represent.

Thousands of court-appointed criminal lawyers, alongside paralegals, investigators, expert witnesses, and interpreters, have faced financial hardship as federal funding for the Defender Services program ran out. Having received no pay since June and with Congress failing to provide necessary funds, many lawyers have been forced to cease accepting new cases.

Nationally, these Criminal Justice Act panel attorneys represent around 40% of defendants unable to afford legal representation. Consequently, numerous legal cases have stalled, trapping defendants in limbo while federal prosecutions persist.

Michael Chernis, a CJA attorney in Southern California, expressed profound concerns, stating, The system’s about to break. He has resisted taking new clients since August and has resorted to taking out a loan to meet payroll obligations at his firm.

In the Central District of California alone, roughly 80 out of around 100 lawyers have stopped taking new cases. Judge Robert Conrad of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts announced that an emergency funding resolution passed by Congress would offer an additional $114 million to the program, to alleviate the backlog of payments owed to panel attorneys.

However, that relief remains tenuous. The anticipated funding for the 2026 fiscal year stands $196 million short, jeopardizing the future of the program and the rights of countless defendants.

Ongoing Legal Impasse

The situation is dire. Ongoing trials are postponed, and in some instances, cases are even dismissed, leading to potential violations of defendants’ constitutional rights to legal counsel and a fair trial.

In New Mexico, one judge has halted a death penalty case, highlighting the severe impact of the funding crisis on the judicial system. In California, judges have warned that without additional funding, they may have to dismiss cases, threatening the very foundation of fair justice.

Unpaid defense team members across various states are increasingly resorting to personal loans or side gigs just to make ends meet. In the wake of this crisis, many attorneys have found it impossible to maintain effective communication with clients who speak different languages, due to unpaid interpreters.

As mankind awaits a resolution, the urgency of the situation illustrates the broader implications of the government shutdown on legal services and the rights of individuals in the judicial process.