[microtherion]

What I'm concerned about is that states which are currently skimping on funds for public defenders will just declare some chat system "good enough" as an excuse to get rid of the remaining funding for human defenders.

It will also virtually ensure that the only work conducted on the behalf of the defendant is based on the written record available to the court. Not a single phone call will be made. If the defendant's physical appearance does not match witness descriptions, the system is unlikely to notice. If the crime site does not match the police statement, the system will never know.