Federal defense attorneys say the fallout from the shutdown is far from over, with many still waiting for pay that lapsed months ago when funding for the Criminal Justice Act panel ran out. Just hours before the shutdown ended, a Sacramento federal judge dismissed a meth distribution case because the court could not appoint a paid attorney. Another Sacramento defendant remains stuck because his Los Angeles-based lawyer cannot afford to travel or hire experts who refuse to work without compensation. Attorneys say the funding lapse has halted travel, investigations and expert testimony, creating an uneven system in which prosecutors are fully funded while defense teams operate without resources. Legal experts warn this undermines constitutional protections. Even with the government reopened,

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