India, July 16 -- Court-appointed private lawyers representing indigent federal criminals are now working without pay as the program that paid them has run out of money, the Federal Courts of the US said.

This kicks off a three-month delay in paying the lawyers and their related service providers for constitutionally mandated legal work. This crisis has prompted new fears that these lawyers, known as panel attorneys, could turn down new cases. It would leave defendants, even those facing death, without ample representation.

Judge Amy St. Eve, chair of the Judicial Conference's Budget Committee, said, "The right of a criminal defendant to effective counsel regardless of the defendant's economic status is guaranteed under our Constitution...