Noting struggles with case-processing due to prosecutor shortages from coast-to-coast

As the start of this year, Stateline has this article about criminal justice staffing shortages headlined “Shortage of prosecutors, judges leads to widespread court backlogs: The pandemic worsened problems that already had caused state and local court delays.”  That article focused particularly on developments in Georgia, New York and Vermont, but some more recent press pieces from a number of states showcase that this is a nationwide problem.  A brand new piece from Alaska, noted below, led me to notice similar tales from multiple states in press pieces from earlier this year:

From Alaska, “Domestic Violence, Child Abuse and DUI Cases Are Being Dismissed en Masse in Anchorage“

From Arizona, “Attorneys raise concerns over slow moving cases, how Pima County Attorney is addressing shortage of prosecutors“

From Indiana, “Prosecutor says Indiana is facing an attorney shortage“

From Maine, “Staffing shortage blamed for lack of prosecutions of crimes in western Maine“

From Michigan, “New state funding not enough to solve shortage of prosecutors, counties say“

From Nebraska, “Rural NE county attorneys, public defenders confront ‘legal desert’ in hiring new lawyers“

From South Carolina, “Thousands await trial in SC on years-old charges. AG proposes way to clear cases“

I have long surmised that government prosecutors and public defenders generally share the privilege of being underpaid and overworked, while both are absolutely essential to the administration of justice in our legal systems.  And I sense these staffing problems are particularly acute in rural areas, especially as new generations of lawyers seem particularly drawn to city life and practice.  What this might mean long term for our criminal justice systems merits watching carefully.