In Texas, Misdemeanor Defendants Routinely Face Charges Without an Attorney NYT | Top Stories By: Jolie McCullough and Ilana Panich-Linsman 5 April 2025 at 06:19 In some parts of the state, misdemeanor defendants routinely face charges without representation. © Ilana Panich-Linsman for The New York TimesCounty officials and stakeholders gathered for a press conference on the steps of the Texas State Capitol to recognize need for indigent defense funding in the state.