Pontiac, Michigan?? The 6th Amendment Center released a report today that validates the need for indigent defense reform and a public defender's office in Oakland County. The report evaluates the county's traditional indigent defense system which has been in place for decades, where the courts oversaw the appointment and assignment of lawyers for defendants who could not afford one.

"The 6^th Amendment Center's report affirms the steps Oakland County is taking to make our criminal justice system more equitable, especially for indigent defendants," County Executive Dave Coulter said. "As we launch a hybrid system for indigent defense that includes a public defender's office, we are showing Oakland County's commitment to ensuring fairness for all defendants in our courts."