Criminal Justice
Congress OKs Bill Forgiving Up to $60K in Loans for Prosecutors, PDs
Posted Aug 5, 2008, 08:51 am CST
By Debra Cassens Weiss
Congress passed legislation last week that forgives up to $10,000 a year in student loans for state and local prosecutors and public defenders who pledge to stay on the job at least three years.
The law would forgive a maximum of $60,000 in school loans for a six-year stint, report the Chicago Tribune and the Daily Journal (sub. req.). The measure was modeled after a forgiveness program available to federal prosecutors.
One of the bill’s lead sponsors, Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., said at a news conference that he expects President Bush to sign the measure, the Tribune story says. He said the average debt of a law school graduate ranges from $50,000 to $90,000, yet the median starting salary for state and local prosecutors and public defenders is about $45,000.
ABA President William H. Neukom released a statement praising Congress for passing the legislation, part of the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. He also supported a different measure signed into law last fall that retires student loan debt after 10 years of service to government agencies or nonprofit organizations.
Together the measure helps "ensure access to justice to all people by helping those who choose to enter low-paying public service careers to better focus on the services they provide while repaying what is often staggering student loan debt," Neukom said.
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