The Defender Initiative, part of Seattle University School of Law's Center for Civil Rights and Critical Justice, works to improve the quality and accessibility of public defense through advocacy, education, research, and collaboration.

This press kit is updated annually to support accurate reporting and provide journalists with timely resources covering conference discussions, policy recommendations, and developments shaping the future of public defense in Washington state.

What is the Public Defense Crisis and Why the Need for State Funding?

In 2024, the Washington State Bar Association’s Council on Public Defense developed new caseload standards for public defenders based on the landmark National Public Defense Workload Study by the RAND Corporation and the American Bar Association. The WSBA’s Board of Governors approved the standards at its March 2024 meeting. More information from the WSBA is available online.

The Washington State Supreme Court then codified most of the WSBA’s new standards into the Washington State court rules in June 2025, with subsequent clarifying and final orders on implementation of the new standards later that same year. Local governments are now required to reduce caseloads by no less than 10% each year until full compliance with the new standard is reached, no later than January 1, 2036.

Currently, local governments bear more than 94% of the cost for trial-level public defense. The Washington State Association of Counties and the King County Department of Public Defense have brought litigation against Washington State asserting that much greater state funding is needed to implement the standards.

What is the Defender Initiative Conference?

The new Washington Supreme Court Rules on Defender Caseload limits are leading to major positive changes and also challenges in funding needs. This conference will address legislative efforts for improved state funding, litigation including defenders declaring unavailability, and developing alternatives to traditional prosecution. Representatives from the Washington Office of Public Defense will discuss their recent survey as well as information about their existing funding efforts. Attendees will explore the role of public defense in public safety discussions.

This annual conference is organized by Seattle University School of Law's Defender Initiative, part of its Center for Civil Rights and Critical Justice. 

2026 Press Conference Panelist Bios

Photos of panelists can be emailed upon request after the press conference.

Robert C. Boruchowitz

Robert C. Boruchowitz was an attorney at The Defender Association, a non-profit public defender office in King County, for 33 years, including 28 years as the office’s Director. Founding president of the Washington Defender Association and a former member of the Executive Committee of the American Council of Chief Defenders, he has been instrumental in developing defender standards that have been endorsed by the Washington State Bar Association and the American Bar Association.

He led a subcommittee that developed both Performance Guidelines for Criminal Defense Representation and Standards for Indigent Defense Services that were adopted by the Washington State Bar Association. Professor Boruchowitz is chair of the Standards Committee of the WSBA Council on Public Defense (CPD).

Larry Jefferson

Larry Jefferson is the Director of the Washington State Office of Public Defense. Jefferson has led the Washington State Office of Public Defense since 2021. Prior to his current leadership role at OPD, he served as a public defender in Thurston County and King County.

Christie Hedman

Christie Hedman is the Director of the Washington Defender Association. She has led the WDA as its Executive Director for more than 30 years, during which time the organization has doubled its membership and increased its staff ten-fold. Hedman is a standing member of the Washington State Bar Association’s Council on Public Defense.

Toby Marshall

Toby Marshall is a founding member of Terrell Marshall Law Group PLLC, where he represents plaintiffs in class actions, collective actions, and other complex litigation. He has secured numerous appellate victories before the Washington Supreme Court, the Washington Court of Appeals, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He was co-counsel in Wilbur v. Mt. Vernon and represented King County Department of Public Defense in In the Matter of the Detention of M.E.

Victoria Blumhorst

Victoria Blumhorst is the Director of Counsel for Defense in Spokane County. She has been a public defender for 18 years and is the incoming Chair of the WSBA Council on Public Defense.

Media Contact

Nicole Jennings
Assistant Director for Communications and Public Relations
Phone: (206) 398 4175
Email: njennings@seattleu.edu

Media Contact

Nicole Jennings
Assistant Director, Communications and Public Relations
Seattle University School of Law
Phone: (206) 398 4175
Email: njennings@seattleu.edu