Admittedly based on anecdotes, the public defenders I have met are highly-educated, committed, creative professionals who typically choose this profession because they see the same structural forces but believe they can make a difference at the individual level.  These are not second-tier individuals.  If we give them the tools, resources, and support they need to actually do their job then there is no doubt in mind this would be a positive, albeit small, step in the right direction.