Bill aimed at assisting public defenders falls short this spring, backers say they’ll try again in fall – Chicago Tribune/MSN

The $53.1 billion state budget that awaits Gov. JB Pritzker’s signature appropriates $10 million to the state Supreme Court for county public defenders, the same as in the current budget. Advocates say far more is needed for a statewide public defender office to be effective. In Cook County’s 2024 budget, for example, the public defender’s office got about $102 million while about $205 million was set aside for the state’s attorney’s office.