Chief Public Defender Julie Smith Todman appeared before the Budget, Appropriations and Finance Committee to present the Office of the Territorial Public Defender’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget of approximately $6.7 million — a figure consistent with last year’s budget — to manage growing caseloads, increasingly complex criminal matters, and the mounting demands of digital evidence review.

Todman presented the proposed budget, joined by Chief Fiscal Officer Ronald Morehead and Assistant Administrator Rennell Stevens. The agency, which operates offices on St. Thomas–St. John and St. Croix, is prioritizing operational modernization, improved case management, and greater staff support. Each district office is staffed with attorneys licensed to practice in the Virgin Islands, along with a range of support personnel handling investigative, administrative, and clerical responsibilities.

“The OTPD bases its request on the need for additional legal and support staff in each district, case load growth, case load complexity, digitizing case management, digital evidence review, employee retention, modernization migration, expert witness retention, synthesization of digital evidence, and enhanced skills training for staff,” Todman said.

Established in 1973 to represent indigent clients in the Virgin Islands’ criminal justice system, the Office of the Territorial Public Defender is currently focused on expanding its legal and support staff, modernizing IT infrastructure, improving digital case management tools, and strengthening staff training to better serve the territory’s justice system.

The Office of the Territorial Public Defender currently manages over 1,000 open cases, with attorneys carrying an average caseload of 50 to 70 cases each. Todman explained that the high number of open cases is largely due to the complexity of many matters. Lengthy case timelines often result from the need to engage experts for scene reconstructions or specialized reports, which may involve travel and coordination. Additionally, delays can occur depending on how quickly judges issue rulings.

“The office currently manages over 1,000 cases annually, a significantly higher case load than that of the Office of Conflict Council, any private criminal defense firm or criminal defense attorney court appointed to handle cases when the OTPD has a conflict,” she said.

To modernize, OTPD successfully implemented Defender Data, a specialized case management system tailored specifically for indigent criminal defense. Fully operational since last year, DD tracks a comprehensive range of case information, including client demographics, charge specifics, case timelines, and other administrative details critical to managing defense operations.

While DD does not analyze legal arguments of each case, it records the data generated through everyday litigation activities, providing the office with a searchable dataset for oversight and operational improvements. “DD simply records the numerous data points from our litigations, allowing our office to leverage that information when needed,” Todman explained.

Sen. Novelle Francis Jr. emphasized the system’s importance, stating, “I think it’s extremely critical and important that you’re able to develop that demographical information as well as trending behavioral patterns.” He also expressed interest in leveraging artificial intelligence to analyze this data, with the goal of gaining deeper insights into the underlying causes and contexts of criminal behavior in a cost-effective manner.

“We have an opportunity with this data to provide information that we don’t currently have. Why people are behaving the way they’re behaving, why they are committing certain types of crimes,” Sen. Hubert Frederick added.

To manage increasingly complex digital evidence, OTPD has adopted Reduct, a discovery management platform that helps organize large volumes of materials, including body camera footage, emails, and texts. The system enhances efficiency by enabling expert review, video transcription, and translation in tech-heavy cases. 

At the same time, OTPD is modernizing its IT infrastructure, installing next-generation firewalls, upgrading servers, and exploring a zero-trust security model. It has also partnered with a cybersecurity firm to provide 24/7 monitoring, dark web scanning, and mandatory security training for staff. 

Alongside technology upgrades, OTPD emphasizes the importance of ongoing professional development. The agency plans to enhance training programs covering a wide range of specialized topics, including complex discovery processes, expert witness engagement, forensic sciences, and emerging legal technologies. 

Todman emphasized the need for salary parity with the Virgin Islands Justice Department, saying competitive compensation is essential to attract and retain experienced attorneys. “This parity ensures that the OTPD has an equal opportunity to develop and retain experienced attorneys, thereby promoting a fair and balanced judicial justice system,” she said.

When asked what keeps her up at night, Todman cited the well-being and retention of her staff as a top concern. “Making sure that my staff knows that management cares about them and their wellness” remains paramount, she said, acknowledging the high stress and demands of public defense work.