Lubbock criminal attorney Jack E. Stoffregen will head West Texas’ first public defender service devoted solely to capital cases. Centered in Lubbock County, a sparsely populated area that has few local criminal-defense attorneys with capital murder trial experience, the West Texas Regional Public Defender Office will handle the cases of indigent defendants who cannot afford an attorney. The office, with a budget of $2.5 million funded by Texas, is expected to alleviate some of the high costs death penalty cases can incur. Recent figures show that a capital case can cost a west Texas county up to $500,000. According to KCBD News in Texas, the West Texas Regional Public Defender Office will reduce capital trial costs and “in turn will save taxpayers money.” (“Lubbock Lawyer Chosen as Chief Defender,” KCBD.com, Oct. 15, 2007). See also Resources, Costs, and Representation. The office will begin taking cases in January 2008.