SJC Exchange Library

Paying for the Right to Counsel: Should Fees Be Charged to Clients for Public Defense Representation?

Did you know that, across the country, people may have to pay a fee to apply for a court appointed attorney? In some states, clients will be asked to re-pay the local government for the public defense representation they received. A recent NLADA report documents such practices, but much remains a black box.

If you are not a public defense attorney yourself, do you know any public defense attorneys who may be willing to share their opinion about this subject? Please feel free to connect us with them, or send them this survey directly!

This brief survey is for public defense attorneys and will take no more than 15-minutes of your time. If you didn't know about paying fees for public defense representation, or even if you don't have these types of fees in your jurisdiction, how do you feel about them? Let us know! Your opinion matters.

Survey Link: click here

Questions? Feel free to email us at: defenderfees@innovatingjustice.org