Utah: Lawsuit over public defense system should be dismissed

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The attorney general's office says a lawsuit alleging that Utah's public defender system is unconstitutional should be dismissed because the six inmates suing over an inadequate defense haven't been convicted or sentenced.

The ACLU contends Utah's public defender system is underfunded and overworked, leaving low-income people who are accused of crimes without their full right to a defense in court.