I'm a criminal defense attorney. My practice includes court-appointed work for the many indigent of Muskegon County. I recently attended a meeting of the Muskegon County Board. On the agenda was funding for Muskegon County public defense. Several of my colleagues spoke to the board about high case loads and low pay. When they finished, one of the board members looked our way and asked how we could complain about pay when we can't seem to do much about chronic jail overcrowding in Muskegon County. [continues 966 words]