The state gives the county money each year to pay for expert witnesses needed to defend capital punishment cases. That money was cut back by former governor Rod Blagojevich.
Public defender's office is 'out of money'
June 3, 2009 (CHICAGO) The office is filing motions in about 60 cases saying that if the state won't pay for effective representation then the state must either remove the death penalty possibility or pay private attorneys to handle those cases.