Richmond Times-Dispatch

Op/Ed - Some More Bills

Jan 25, 2006

Virginia citizens trying to keep up with the press of legislation before the General Assembly must feel a trifle like Lewis Carroll's little Alice (who was told, by the Red Queen: "Now, here, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place"). Even legislators admit they don't always read the bills they vote on. Thoroughly understanding all of them is almost impossible. Below, however, are some worthy of note.

Other measures worthy of approval include two that would lift the absurdly low caps on compensation for indigent defense. A local lawyer points out that those caps -- $112 for a misdemeanor, $428 for a felony that could result in 20 years of prison time, and $1,186 for a more serious crime amount, at the going hourly rate, to between five and 13 hours of attorney time. Given recent revelations about the Commonwealth having put innocent persons behind bars, the state must do better. Locking up the innocent doubly compounds the original crime -- by creating another victim while letting the guilty party go free. The poorest Virginian ought to enjoy equality before the law.