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The East Baton Rouge Public Defender's Office is facing layoffs as a result of deep budget cuts.
A nearly 38 percent reduction in funding is coming up next year because of the end of federal pandemic grants and planned cuts to the city budget.
Chief Public Defender Kyla Romanach says the cuts will lead to staff shortages and a growing case backlog.
The city-parish isn't required to fund the Public Defender's Office.
The state divides about $48 million among each parish office in Louisiana. Romanach says it's not enough.
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