Quality Defense Act of 2025
Introduced Mar 25, 2025 by Sen. Cory A. Booker
It's waiting on a committee vote to reach the full chamber. Most bills never leave this stage.
This bill establishes grant programs and other resources to support the delivery of public defense services.
Specifically, the bill authorizes the Department of Justice (DOJ) to award grants to state and local governments, tribal organizations, public defender's offices, and assigned counsel programs for public defense. In particular, DOJ may award a grant for (1) developing, implementing, and updating a process for collecting certain data regarding public defense attorneys and panel attorneys; or (2) hiring additional public defense attorneys and for other activities (e.g., increasing compensation or establishing a loan assistance program for public defenders).
Additionally, DOJ must award grants to eligible entities (e.g., certain tax-exempt organizations and states) to provide a comprehensive educational program to public defenders and panel attorneys that offers ongoing training, support, and programming.
The bill directs the Bureau of Justice Assistance and the Office for Access to Justice to conduct certain studies related to public defender and panel attorney caseloads and compensation.
Read the full summary on Congress.govSummary by the Congressional Research Service.
No floor votes yet — it hasn't reached the floor of either chamber.