New lawyer law could empty pockets of small-city courts

A new law is taking effect and it is forcing municipal courts to provide a lawyer for any potentially jailed defendant.

Opponents argue that some cities like Pueblo may not be able to afford the price tag that comes with this law.

Council President Steve Nawrocki argues that most communities already offer a lawyer to anyone who faces jail time.

“The difference now is that we’re gonna have to have an attorney at the jail in case someone is arraigned,” said Nawrocki. “It’s just gonna add expense to what we were already doing, but we were doing it as needed based on the need by what determining sentence could be and somebody qualifying to be indigent.”

Nawroki added that while the $10,000 this will cost the court doesn’t seem like a lot, the court is already in the red.