In re Public Defender's Certification of Conflict & Motion to Withdraw Due to Excessive Case Load & Motion for Writ of Mandamus

EN BANC

PARKER, Chief Judge.

The Public Defender for the Tenth Judicial Circuit (appellate public defender) has filed a certification of conflict and motion to withdraw, due to what it deems to be an “excessive case load,” as appointed counsel in 248 cases to which that office is currently assigned. Section 27.51(4)(b), Florida Statutes (1995), requires the Public Defender of the Tenth Judicial Circuit to act as the appellate attorney for indigent defendants appealing criminal matters from the trial courts to this court. For the reasons set forth in this order, we deny the motion.

In September…