Kanawha County is having “a crisis” when it comes to getting enough lawyers to take court-appointed defense work and child abuse and neglect cases, but the issue appears to be a problem statewide. Chief Kanawha County Circuit Judge Maryclaire Akers is waiting for lawyers to respond to her urgent call, saying only 11 lawyers are on the county’s list to step in when the need arises. Public Defender Services, which pays the bills, claims it’s a major problem across West Virginia. According to executive director Dana Eddy, “They are struggling. I have many calls to my office asking if I know of any attorneys who might take those court appointments,” Public Defender Services is offering to pay the travel costs of lawyers to fill some of that void. Higher pay would require legislative action.