Agency That Defends Death Row Prisoners to Close L.A. Office

State Public Defender Fern M. Laethem, whose office appeals the cases of Death Row inmates, has announced plans to close her busy Los Angeles regional office in the face of a virtually certain 20% cut in her operating budget.

Operations of the Los Angeles office, which historically has handled the heaviest caseload of death penalty appeals, would be transferred to the San Francisco regional office and Sacramento headquarters.

The public defender agency was created in 1976 to provide appellate representation in the state Supreme Court for indigents fighting death sentences.

Reflecting demands to reduce costs in the fiscal crisis, Laethem plans to close the Los Angeles office effective Jan. 1 and transfer its staff of 28 to the other offices. The Los Angeles office currently represents 18 clients.

Her voice quaking with emotion, Laethem told the Senate Rules Committee at a confirmation hearing Wednesday that she believes it is in the best long-term interests of the agency and its clients to close the Los Angeles office instead of trying to spread the proposed 20% cut among all three offices.

“The enormity of this decision weighs heavily on me,” Laethem told the committee, which recommended her confirmation to the full Senate. Gubernatorial appointees can hold office up to one year before being confirmed.

Laethem said she gave the Los Angeles employees notice of the closure last week so that they could get a head start on adjusting their personal and professional lives. Only a few indicated interest in a transfer, she said.

Senate Leader David A. Roberti (D-Van Nuys) questioned the wisdom of closing the office, which handles capital appeals from throughout Southern California. But Roberti, a state budget negotiator, said he did not want to second-guess decisions on fiscal cuts made by agency directors of the Wilson Administration.