San Diego

Prolonging a long-running controversy, the county Board of Supervisors Tuesday delayed a decision on plans to establish a new indigent-defense system.

By a unanimous vote, the board postponed for two weeks action on a proposal to create a quasi-public community defenders office to replace the existing system of contracting with private lawyers to represent indigents accused of crimes.

A major stumbling block concerns the size of the proposed defenders office. County officials have recommended that the office include 128 full-time attorneys, while defense lawyers insist that a minimum of 159 positions are needed to adequately represent indigent defendants.