Massachussetts Lawyer shortage for Poor Defendants is seen easing
/A justice of the state Supreme Judicial Court
said yesterday that a critical shortage of private lawyers willing to
represent indigent criminal defendants in Hampden County appeared to be
abating. Justice Francis X. Spina said that judges in the county have
informed him that more private lawyers have come forward to represent
poor defendants since he held a hearing Aug. 23 about the shortage,
which stems from an ongoing pay dispute. The Legislature has since
tentatively approved a $7.50 hourly increase in the pay rate but has
yet to pass a supplemental spending bill to fund it. With the increase,
the pay scale would range from $37.50 to $61.50 an hour, depending on
the seriousness of cases. [more 
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