The Right to Counsel Depends on Funding: Chris Dodd Joins Attorneys Warning of a Systemic Breakdown.

Funding for attorneys who represent indigent clients in federal cases has run out—leaving dozens of Criminal Justice Act (CJA) panel lawyers in New Mexico working without pay for months.

As reported by KRQE News 13 on November 6, 2025, Christopher Dodd, founding partner at Fayerberg Dodd, LLC, was among the attorneys speaking out about the crisis and its potential to destabilize the federal criminal justice system.

“It’s only going to grow worse and worse and worse the longer that Congress refuses to adequately fund the system,” said Dodd.

The CJA Panel is composed of private attorneys who contract with the federal government to take on cases the Federal Public Defender’s Office cannot handle due to conflicts or capacity. These lawyers ensure that every person charged with a crime receives the effective representation guaranteed by the Constitution.

“Especially in federal court, every person charged with a crime has a right to a defense—an effective defense,” Dodd explained. “And so the CJA Panel is an exceptionally important component of our criminal justice system.”

But the system itself is under strain. This year’s CJA funding lapsed in July, and many panel attorneys have now missed four months of pay.

“We’ve missed four months of paychecks. And ultimately, we can’t do it anymore,” Dodd said.

He and 51 other CJA attorneys signed a letter to Congress urging immediate action to restore funding. Without relief, many will be forced to withdraw or decline new appointments, jeopardizing the fair administration of justice.

“It’s just not ethical of us to take on additional cases when we cannot provide the services at the quality that the Constitution demands,” Dodd said.

The implications go far beyond the attorneys themselves. Dodd warned that without properly funded defense counsel, prosecutions—including serious and violent cases—could grind to a halt.

“If that side isn’t funded, the system cannot function properly,” he said. “Our criminal justice system protects the rights of defendants, victims, and the public alike. It’s important that we fund it.”

Congressional offices have since acknowledged the issue, with Senator Martin Heinrich calling the shortfall “an injustice in the most literal sense.”

For more, read the full story on KRQE News 13