In what one local defense attorney has termed the “Friday Morning Massacre,” 21 staff members of the Metro Conflict Defender Office—including 17 attorneys—were notified that, effective June 30, they will no longer have jobs.

Georgia Public Defender Standards Council Director Mack Crawford confirmed that the attorneys, who represent “conflict” defendants in DeKalb and Fulton County Superior Courts, as well as two juvenile court conflict defenders, have been notified that they will be terminated. He said he would release more details about the firings, and the plans to replace the staffers, later Friday.

The affected lawyers represent defendants when the local public defender's office is already representing another defendant in the same case, to avoid a conflict of interest.

According to Stephen Bright of the Southern Center for Human Rights, the move is the latest in a series of troubling cost-cutting moves Crawford has made since being appointed to head the financially troubled council last year.

“This is going to mean a lot of trouble for the courts, particularly the Fulton County Juvenile Court,” said Bright. “I don't know how they plan to replace those lawyers.”

“I would imagine a lot of judges will be furious,” he added.

Bright, whose description hearkens back to the wholesale firings of two Nixon administration attorneys during the Watergate scandal, said he is greatly concerned that Crawford's move, while saving costs in the short term, may hurt the program in the end.

“It's sad to say, but so much of what Crawford has done seems to be concerned with the bottom line. … I think a lot of it is counterproductive,” said Bright.

Fulton County's State Court defenders are employees of the county and not under council authority, noted Bright.

“They're safely out of Crawford's reach,” he said.

Staff Reporter Greg Land can be reached at gland@alm.com