House Bill Would Repay $60k in Student Loans if Law Grads Work as Prosecutor or Public Defender for 3 Years

The House on Tuesday passed the Justice Prosecutors and Defenders Act of 2007 (H.R. 916), which would:

• Establish a program of student loan repayment for borrowers who agree to remain employed, for at least three years, as State or local criminal prosecutors or as State, local or Federal public defenders in criminal cases
• Allow eligible attorneys to receive student loan debt repayments of up to $10,000 per year, with a maximum aggregate over time of $60,000

See the press release.  From the Associated Press:

The House voted Tuesday to pay off up to $60,000 in student loans for lawyers who commit to working as public defenders or prosecutors for at least three years. The bill, which would cap the loan spending at $25 million a year, passed 341-73. A similar measure has been introduced in the Senate. House sponsor David Scott, D-Ga., said the bill would help counter high turnover in public defender and prosecutor offices across the country.

(Hat Tip:  Bryan Camp.)

Update:  The Wall Street Journal's Law Blog has more here.