Maryland Public Defender Paul De Wolfe stated he considered using panel attorneys to represent indigent defendants to staff commissioner bail hearings, but he concluded there are not enough panel attorneys statewide to meet the demand ("Maryland public defender asks for stay in high court's ruling," Feb. 3).
Last year, after months of contacting the Baltimore City Public Defender's office to get my application approved and certification as a panel attorney, I finally received my certification.
Although I received my letter of certification months ago, I have yet to be called by any of the public defender's offices in the district courts in the city to represent any defendants, even though I have introduced myself and made it clear to each of the offices at the courts that I am available as a panel attorney.
Other panel attorneys have also told me they are never called to represent defendants unless they take the day away from their offices to just show up at the courthouse in hopes of getting a case.
We are an available resource, and I, as many of my colleagues, am ready, willing and able to represent the indigent.
Gerardine M. Delambo, Baltimore