Rule 4-11. Appointment of Counsel for Indigents

Rule 4-11. Appointment of Counsel for Indigents

   A. Payment for Court-Appointed Attorney. Before the claim of any attorney appointed by the court is allowed, such attorney shall make a written motion for fees, positively verified, stating time and expenses in the case. Counsel shall also state in the motion that counsel has not received and has no contract for the payment of any compensation by the defendant or anyone in the defendant's behalf, or if counsel has received any fee or has a contract for the payment of same, to disclose the same fully so that the proper credit may be taken on counsel's motion.

   B. Payment for Court-Appointed Guardian Ad Litem. When a court-appointed guardian ad litem makes application for payment of fees, if the indigence of either party to the action is at issue such that the county may be ordered to pay the fees and costs, the guardian shall serve a copy of the fee application and notice of hearing upon the County Attorney. The County Attorney may appear at the hearing to represent the interests of the county or may file a written waiver of appearance.

   C. Amount of Awarded Fees. When the award of fees is expected to exceed $4,800, the judge to whom the case is assigned may, in the judge's discretion, request that the presiding judge, or, in the absence of the presiding judge, the acting presiding judge, appoint two additional judges who, together with the judge to whom the case is assigned, shall determine the fee by majority vote.

Adopted effective December 29, 1995; amended September 21, 2022.