Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes, pictured in May, said his department was not obligated to inform the district attorney about the audits related to evidence booking. But, he added, they were mentioned in criminal cases referred to the district attorney's office. MediaNews Group/Orange County Register/MediaNews Group via Getty Images hide caption
People walk past the Cook County Criminal Courts Building in April 2012. Public Defender Amy Campanelli wants sheriff's deputies to monitor the lockup areas to prevent men in custody from exposing themselves to female attorneys. M. Spencer Green/AP hide caption
Frederick Bell of Larose, La., says he's received no guidance from a public defender on how to fight drug charges from October. Bell is part of a class action lawsuit against Louisiana's public defender board that charges the public defense system is unconstitutional. Debbie Elliott/NPR hide caption
A new lawsuit alleges the public defender system for the the state of Louisiana has failed to provide effective representation to poor people. Alex Brandon/AP hide caption
Ahmad Khan Rahimi spoke to an Elizabeth, N.J., court by video from his hospital bed Thursday. He entered pleas of not guilty to charges connected with Sept. 17 bombings in New Jersey and New York. KENA BETANCUR/AFP/Getty Images hide caption