Supervisor Matt Dorsey Has Asked For An Investigation

Supervisor Matt Dorsey has asked for an investigation into whether San Francisco taxpayers’ money is being used to improperly pay for the legal defense of accused drug dealers who earn big bucks.  The City Charter states that city-funded public defenders are eligible for criminal defendants who are “financially unable to employ” lawyers or by court order.  The SF Chronicle recently investigated open-air drug dealers, some of whom have said “they could make $350,000 per year or more.”  More details on these investigations are available here: Public defenders for suspected dealers? S.F. official seeks answers (sfchronicle.com) and www.sfchronicle.com/drug-trade.   

Stop Crime supports this investigation.  While indigent people accused of crimes are constitutionally eligible for lawyers from the Public Defender’s Office, a city facing huge future budget deficits has more important priorities than supporting drug dealer who kill people with fentanyl, “tranq” and other poisons.