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Founded in 1983, Baroco (pronounced Bear-ra-koe) has dedicated itself to providing innovative opportunities to help people with disabilities participate in and contribute to their communities. Inherent in this dedication is the recognition that the
City Of Whittier is a Whittier, CA-based company in the Government sector.
Since 2001, the Office of Indigent Defense Services (“IDS”) has overseen legal representation for indigent defendants and others entitled to counsel in North Carolina. Created by an act of the N.C. General Assembly, the organization works daily to make real the Constitution`s right to counsel for those charged with crimes or who face significant deprivations to their liberty. IDS trains, qualifies, and sets performance standards for attorneys, as well as determines the most appropriate and cost-effective methods for delivering legal defense services in each of the state`s judicial districts. It is committed to recruiting North Carolina`s most talented attorneys to represent indigent defendants and to providing those attorneys with the resources they need to be effective. IDS works diligently to anticipate and resolve systemic issues that impact defenders and their clients. For two decades, it has distinguished itself nationally as a leader in the development of innovative, high quality, cost-effective, and accountable indigent defense programs. Many states, including Georgia, Texas and Virginia, have looked to IDS`s example and establishing act for guidance in improving their own defense systems. The organization`s programmatic work includes efforts to increase communication and resource-sharing with the private bar; the development of legal training programs, often in partnership with the UNC School of Government; the establishment of a specialized Office of the Juvenile Defender; and the creation of performance guidelines for appointed counsel across a number of practice areas. IDS also works regularly with the Offices of the Capital Defender and Appellate Defender to recruit and evaluate attorneys for their respective rosters, ensure their appointments in a timely and equitable manner, and to support them with expert services. IDS and its staff are committed to the continued delivery of quality legal services to indigent persons throughout North Carolina. For more information about IDS and its role in public defense, see Why We Have a Public Defense System.
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is the agency charged with implementing North Carolina public school laws and the State Board of Education`s policies and procedures governing pre-kindergarten through 12th grade public education. The elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction heads the Department and functions under the policy direction of the State Board of Education.
The Maryland Office of People`s Counsel (OPC), created in 1924, is the oldest utility consumer advocacy office of its kind in the United States. The People`s Counsel is appointed by the Attorney General, with the advice and consent of the Senate, and acts independently of the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) and the Office of Attorney General. OPC is a State of Maryland agency, yet works independently to represent Maryland`s residential consumers of electric, natural gas, telecommunications, private water and certain transportation matters before the PSC, federal regulatory agencies and the courts. Every day OPC`s staff members address issues affecting the cost, quality of service and adequate supply of these utility services. As such OPC`s advocacy touches the lives of every resident of Maryland. OPC functions primarily as a law office, employing a staff of 19, and retains expert consultants to provide technical assistance and expert testimony. These consultants are highly qualified accounting, engineering and economic experts who provide technical assistance, prepare reports and appear as expert witnesses before the PSC and federal agencies. These experts are absolutely critical to OPC`s ability to represent consumers. Because it is a state agency, funding for OPC is included in the state budget proposed by the Governor and approved by the General Assembly. However, the State`s General Fund is fully reimbursed for OPC`s expenses from revenue collected in the Public Utility Regulation Fund. These revenues are collected from all regulated utility companies and licensed energy suppliers.