Gideon at 50:
A Three-Part Examination of
Indigent Defense in America
Part I — Rationing Justice:
The Underfunding of Assigned Counsel Systems

SIXTH AMENDMENT: IN ALL CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS, THE ACCUSED SHALL
ENJOY THE RIGHT TO A SPEEDY AND PUBLIC TRIAL, BY AN IMPARTIAL JURY
OF THE STATE AND DISTRICT WHEREIN THE CRIME SHALL HAVE BEEN
COMMITTED, WHICH DISTRICT SHALL HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY
ASCERTAINED BY LAW, AND TO BE INFORMED OF THE NATURE AND CAUSE
OF THE ACCUSATION; TO BE CONFRONTED WITH THE WITNESSES AGAINST
HIM; TO HAVE COMPULSORY PROCESS FOR OBTAINING WITNESSES IN HIS
FAVOR, AND TO HAVE THE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL FOR HIS DEFENCE.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF C RIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS
March 2013

Supported by a grant from the Foundation for Criminal Justice.

COPYRIGHT © 2013 N ATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF C RIMINAL D EFENSE L AWYERS
This report is subject to a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Nonderivative
Work license (see www.creativecommons.org). It may be reproduced, provided that no
charge is imposed, and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers is
acknowledged as the original publisher and the copyright holder. For any other form of
reproduction, please contact NACDL for permission.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
CRIMINAL D EFENSE LAWYERS

1660 L Street NW, 12th Floor
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-872-8600
www.nacdl.org

Gideon at 50:
A Three-Part Examination of Indigent Defense in America

PART I

Rationing Justice: The Underfunding
of Assigned Counsel Systems
A 50-State Survey of Trial Court Assigned Counsel Rates

BY
JOHN P. GROSS
Indigent Defense Counsel
National Association of
Criminal Defense Lawyers

STEVEN D. BENJAMIN

GERALD B. LEFCOURT

President, NACDL
Richmond, VA

President, FCJ
New York, NY

NORMAN L. REIMER
Executive Director, NACDL
Washington, DC

KYLE O’DOWD
Associate Executive Director
For Policy, NACDL
Washington, DC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABOUT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS . . .3
ABOUT THE FOUNDATION FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

2

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
FOREWORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
RATIONING JUSTICE: THE UNDERFUNDING OF
ASSIGNED COUNSEL SYSTEMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
HOW STATES SET THE RATE OF COMPENSATION
FOR COURT-APPOINTED COUNSEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Uniform Rates Set by Statute, Regulation or Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Maximum Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Rates Determined by the Trial Court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Rates Determined by Contract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Map of Assigned Counsel Compensation in the 50 States . . . . . . . . .10-11
Problematic Aspects of Current Appointed
Counsel Compensation Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Unreasonably Low Hourly Rates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Unreasonably Low Maximum Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Flat Fees & Flat Fee Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Judicial Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
RESULTING NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE
INDIGENT DEFENSE DELIVERY SYSTEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
CONCLUSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
ENDNOTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS
50-STATE SURVEY OF TRIAL COURT ASSIGNED
COUNSEL RATES FOR 2013 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Gideon at 50: A Three-Part Examination of Indigent Defense in America

ABOUT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
OF CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS

T

he National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) is the
preeminent organization in the United States advancing the goal of the criminal
defense bar to ensure justice and due process for persons charged with a crime
or wrongdoing. NACDL’s core mission is to: Ensure justice and due process for persons
accused of crime … Foster the integrity, independence and expertise of the criminal
defense profession … Promote the proper and fair administration of criminal justice.

Founded in 1958, NACDL has a rich history of promoting education and reform
through steadfast support of America’s criminal defense bar, amicus curiae advocacy,
and myriad projects designed to safeguard due process rights and promote a rational and
humane criminal justice system. NACDL’s approximately 9,500 direct members —
and more than 90 state, local and international affiliates with an additional 40,000
members — include private criminal defense lawyers, public defenders, active U.S.
military defense counsel, and law professors committed to preserving fairness in
America’s criminal justice system. Representing thousands of criminal defense
attorneys who know firsthand the inadequacies of the current system, NACDL is
recognized domestically and internationally for its expertise on criminal justice policies
and best practices.

The research and publication of this report was made possible through the support of
the Foundation for Criminal Justice and its contributors, including individuals, the Open
Society Foundation and the Ford Foundation.
For more information contact:

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
CRIMINAL D EFENSE LAWYERS

1660 L Street NW, 12th Floor
Washington, DC 20036
202-872-8600
www.nacdl.org

This publication is available online at
http://www.nacdl.org/gideonat50/

Part I — Rationing Justice: The Underfunding of Assigned Counsel Systems

3

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION
FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE

T
4

he Foundation for Criminal Justice (FCJ) is organized to preserve and promote
the core values of America’s criminal justice system guaranteed by the
Constitution — among them due process, freedom from unreasonable search and
seizure, fair sentencing, and access to effective counsel. The FCJ pursues this goal by
seeking grants and supporting programs to educate the public and the legal profession
on the role of these rights and values in a free society and assist in their preservation
throughout the United States and abroad.

The Foundation is incorporated in the District of Columbia as a non-profit, 501(c)(3)
corporation. All contributions to the Foundation are tax-deductible. The affairs of the
Foundation are managed by a Board of Trustees that possesses and exercises all powers
granted to the Foundation under the DC Non-Profit Foundation Act, the Foundation’s
own Articles of Incorporation and its Bylaws.
For more information contact:

F OUNDATION

FOR

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

1660 L Street NW, 12th Floor
Washington, DC 20036
202-872-8600
www.nacdl.org/foundation

Gideon at 50: A Three-Part Examination of Indigent Defense in America

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

T

his report was prepared by John P. Gross, Indigent Defense Counsel for the
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

The author would like to thank the following NACDL staff for their careful editing
and helpful suggestions: Norman Reimer, Executive Director; Kyle O’Dowd,
Associate Executive Director for Policy; and Quintin Chatman, Editor of The
Champion magazine. The author would also like to thank NACDL law clerk Melissa
Baldwin for her legal research on assigned counsel compensation rates. The author
wishes to acknowledge Cathy Zlomek, NACDL Art Director, for the design of the
report.
The author also wishes to thank the members of NACDL’s Indigent Defense
Committee for their support of this project.

Part I — Rationing Justice: The Underfunding of Assigned Counsel Systems

5

5

FOREWORD

T

he lack of adequate compensation for assigned counsel is a serious threat to our
criminal justice system. Our adversarial system cannot function properly when
defense attorneys are impeded from providing adequate representation. Low hourly
wages combined with caps on fees undermine the right to counsel guaranteed by the Sixth
Amendment.

6

Low hourly wages for assigned counsel in criminal cases reinforce the idea that we have
two criminal justice systems, one for the wealthy and one for the poor. This disparity violates the principle that everyone in this country stands equal before the law. Statutory
caps on the already low court-appointed fees are an additional impediment to the representation of the indigent accused. These caps result in attorneys earning less per hour the
more they work on a client’s case. This type of financial disincentive creates a conflict of
interest for defense attorneys and undermines the confidence of the accused and the public in our criminal justice system. While the vast majority of assigned counsel zealously
represents their clients, inadequate compensation substantially reduces the number of attorneys willing to represent indigent defendants and diminishes the overall quality of representation.
The provision of counsel at state expense is a necessary predicate to a lawful prosecution
of an accused who cannot afford his own attorney. The attorneys who represent the indigent in our nation’s criminal courts perform an invaluable service without which, the criminal justice system would collapse. Yet in many instances, states pay hourly wages that do
not even cover the costs incurred by the attorneys during the course of representation. When
states refuse to adequately compensate assigned counsel, they fail to discharge their constitutional obligation to the accused.

The right to counsel is a fundamental American right. When states fail to adequately compensate assigned counsel, they discourage the active participation of the private bar in indigent defense, which causes excessive caseloads for public defender organizations.
NACDL’s 50-State Survey of Assigned Counsel Rates documents the current funding levels for assigned counsel across the nation. It is a guide for the defense bar, assigned counsel plan administrators and government officials in all three branches who must determine
compensation rates for assigned counsel. As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the
Supreme Court’s decision in Gideon v. Wainwright, the information contained in the survey should provide the impetus for the reform of our nation’s assigned counsel systems
so that every defendant stands equal before the law irrespective of financial status.

Steven D. Benjamin
President, NACDL

Gideon at 50: A Three-Part Examination of Indigent Defense in America

RATIONING JUSTICE:
THE UNDERFUNDING OF
ASSIGNED COUNSEL SYSTEMS
Governments, both state and federal, quite properly spend vast
sums of money to establish machinery to try defendants accused of crime. Lawyers to prosecute are everywhere deemed
essential to protect the public’s interest in an orderly society.
Similarly, there are few defendants charged with crime, few indeed, who fail to hire the best lawyers they can get to prepare
and present their defenses. That government hires lawyers to
prosecute and defendants who have the money hire lawyers
to defend are the strongest indications of the wide-spread belief that lawyers in criminal courts are necessities, not luxuries.

T

Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335, 344 (1963)

Introduction

his 50-state survey of assigned counsel rates identifies the current hourly rates paid
to private attorneys who represent the indigent in criminal cases as well as the maximum fee that can be earned by those attorneys.1 The last comprehensive survey of
assigned counsel rates was undertaken by the Spangenberg Group a decade ago and was
limited to the rates of compensation paid in non-capital felony cases.2 This survey includes
data on assigned counsel rates for both misdemeanor and non-capital felony cases. While
some jurisdictions rely primarily on public defender organizations to provide representation to the indigent, private assigned counsel plays a significant and critical role in the
proper functioning of a public defense delivery system. The ABA Ten Principles of a Public
Delivery System calls for the active participation of the private bar, even in areas where the
Part I — Rationing Justice: The Underfunding of Assigned Counsel Systems

7

caseload is sufficiently high to warrant the establishment of a public defender’s office. Private
attorneys must be available to handle cases
where the public defender’s office has a conflict
and to handle cases when public defender caseloads become excessive.3

Inadequate compensation for

8

assigned counsel discourages the
participation of the private bar and
ultimately reduces the effectiveness
of a public defense delivery system.

A public defense delivery system can take a number of forms: a full-time public defender’s office,
an assigned counsel plan, or contracts with individual attorneys. Whatever form it takes, a key
component to the success of that system is adequate
compensation for the attorneys who represent the
indigent. While public defenders are typically fulltime salaried employees, assigned counsel programs use private attorneys who
represent indigent defendants but also
maintain a private practice. Inadequate
compensation for assigned counsel
discourages the participation of the
private bar and ultimately reduces the
effectiveness of a public defense delivery system. In some cases, inadequate compensation may induce
attorneys to accept more clients than
they can effectively represent in order
to maintain their practices.

States employ several different methods to compensate assigned counsel: hourly rates that can
vary depending on the seriousness of the charge
or whether the work is performed in or out of
court; flat fees that vary based on the seriousness
of the case; fees for specific events that take place
such as a guilty plea, a hearing or a trial; or flat
fee contracts that require the attorney to represent
an entire class of defendants.
This survey reveals the staggeringly low rates of
compensation for assigned counsel across the nation. A combination of low hourly wages combined with limits on the amount of compensation
make it difficult, if not impossible, for members of
the private bar to actively participate in assigned
counsel systems. The average rate of compensation for felony cases in the 30 states that have established a statewide compensation rate is less than
$65 an hour, with some states paying as little as
$40 an hour. That rate of compensation does not
take into account the various overhead costs associated with the practice of law, which include the
costs of reference materials, office equipment, rent,
travel, malpractice insurance and, for most young
attorneys, student loans. The 2012 Survey of Law
Firm Economics by ALM Legal Intelligence estimates that over 50 percent of revenue generated by
attorneys goes to pay overhead expenses.

The average rate of compensation
for felony cases in the 30 states
that have established a statewide
compensation rate is less than $65
an hour with some states paying as
little as $40 an hour.

Gideon at 50: A Three-Part Examination of Indigent Defense in America

How States Set the Rate of
Compensation for CourtAppointed Counsel

Compensation rates for assigned counsel are set
in one of three ways: (1) uniform rates set by
statute, regulation or rule, (2) rates set at the discretion of the presiding judge on a case-by-case
basis, or (3) through a contract between the state
or a state agency and a private attorney.
Determining the hourly rate of compensation becomes difficult when the discretion to award
compensation rests in the hands of the trial judge.
It is also difficult to determine an hourly rate of
compensation when attorneys enter into flat fee
contracts, since the number of cases handled during the length of that contract may vary considerably. Another obstacle to collecting accurate
data on assigned counsel rates is that many states
do not employ statewide indigent defense delivery systems but instead delegate the responsibility to individual counties. In these cases, assigned
counsel rates may vary widely within a state.
Despite these obstacles, a review of the existing
statewide hourly rates as well as the limitations
imposed on the amount of compensation reveals
indigent defense delivery systems that fail to adequately compensate assigned counsel.

Uniform Rates Set by Statute,
Regulation or Rule

Uniform hourly rates have been established
in 30 states: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas,
Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii,
Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North
Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon,
Rhode Island, South Carolina, South
Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, West Virginia,
Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Maximum Fees

Maximum fees or caps have been established
in 26 states: Alabama, Alaska, Colorado,
Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa,
Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi,
Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New
York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode
Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah,
Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia.

Rates Determined by the Trial Court

In 9 states the trial court has discretion to award
counsel reasonable fees: Arizona, California,
Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Pennsylvania,
Texas, Utah and Washington.

Rates Determined by Contract

At least 20 states permit individual counties to
enter into flat fee contracts with private attorneys:
Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia,
Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan,
Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New
Mexico, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah
and Washington.

A combination of low hourly rates, fee
limitations and the use of flat fees
discourages attorneys from providing
zealous representation and can give
rise to serious conflicts of interest.

Part I — Rationing Justice: The Underfunding of Assigned Counsel Systems

9

= States WITH established
uniform hourly rates

= States WITHOUT

established uniform
hourly rates

10

= States where rates are
determined by the
TRIAL COURT

= States with

established
MAXIMUM FEES
or CAPS

= States where rates are

determined by CONTRACT

Gideon at 50: A Three-Part Examination of Indigent Defense in America

11

MAP OF ASSIGNED COUNSEL
COMPENSATION IN THE 50 STATES
Part I — Rationing Justice: The Underfunding of Assigned Counsel Systems

No state comes close
to matching the Federal
CJA compensation rate.

Wisconsin has the
lowest rate in the
nation at $40 an hour.

12

Problematic Aspects of
Current Appointed Counsel
Compensation Systems

There are a number of problems with the current
systems used by states to compensate assigned
counsel. These problems hinder or disincentivize
appointed counsel from providing effective representation. A combination of low hourly rates, fee
limitations and the use of flat fees discourages attorneys from providing zealous representation and
can give rise to serious conflicts of interest.

Unreasonably Low Hourly Rates

The ABA Standards for Providing Defense
Services call for “compensation at a reasonable
hourly rate” as well as reimbursement
for “reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.”4 The Federal Criminal
Justice Act currently compensates attorneys representing indigent defendants in federal court at a rate of $125
an hour and limits attorney compensation to $9,700 in the case of noncapital felonies and $2,800 in the case
of misdemeanors.5 No state comes
close to matching the Federal CJA
compensation rate. The average
hourly rate of compensation among
the 30 states that have an established

statewide rate of compensation is below $65 an
hour. Wisconsin has the lowest rate in the nation
at $40 an hour. Oregon pays attorneys $45 an
hour for all non-capital cases, including cases
where juveniles are charged with aggravated murder. Alaska, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island,
Tennessee and Vermont compensate assigned
counsel at a rate of $50 an hour for misdemeanor
cases where a defendant is typically facing up to
a year in jail if convicted.
A number of states — Alaska, New Jersey, Ohio,
South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia — pay a
lower hourly rate for work done out of court.
Over 80 years ago, the Supreme Court recognized
that a defendant in a criminal case “requires the
guiding hand of counsel at every step in the proceedings against him” and not merely at trial.6
Despite that fact, states continue to undervalue
what are essential components of an adequate defense such as client and witness interviewing,
legal research and the filing of discovery requests
and motions. In Tennessee, attorneys are paid $40
for work done outside of court, while court-appointed investigators are compensated at the
higher rate of $50 an hour.

In Tennessee, attorneys are paid
$40 for work done outside of court,
while court-appointed investigators
are compensated at the
higher rate of $50 an hour.

Gideon at 50: A Three-Part Examination of Indigent Defense in America

A decade ago, when declaring New York’s statutory scheme for compensating counsel to be unconstitutional, one court found that the
unreasonably low rate paid to counsel, $40 an hour
for in-court work and $25 an hour for out-of-court
work, “resulted in less than meaningful and effective” representation.7 This was caused by the fact
that attorneys did not “conduct a prompt and thorough interview of the defendant; consult with the
defendant on a regular basis; examine the legal sufficiency of the complaint or indictment; seek the
defendant’s prompt pre-trial release; retain investigators, social workers or other experts where appropriate; file pre-trial motions where appropriate;
fully advise the defendant regarding any plea
and only after conducting an investigation of
the law and facts; prepare for trial and court
appearances; and engage in appropriate presentencing advocacy, including seeking to
obtain the defendant’s entry into any appropriate diversionary programs.”8
States continue to use hourly rates that
have remained stagnant for years. Alaska
has had the same rate since 1986, West
Virginia since 1990, South Carolina since
1993 and Vermont since 1994. In
Wisconsin, the hourly rate for assigned
counsel has only increased by $5 in the last 35
years. The hourly compensation rates for assigned
counsel have remained the same over the last
decade in 13 states: Alaska, Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New
Jersey, New York, Ohio, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Vermont and Wisconsin. To put that
level of rate stagnation into perspective, the
Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index
Calculator estimates that $1.00 in 2003 has the
same purchasing power as $1.25 in 2013. Over
the last decade, states would have needed to raise
assigned counsel rates by 25 percent just to have
kept pace with the increased costs of living.

Hourly rates for court-appointed counsel that
have remained stagnant for a decade or longer
simply fail to reflect current economic conditions.
South Dakota provides an example of fees keeping pace with the changing economy: beginning
in the year 2000, flat fees were abolished and an
hourly rate of $67 was established along with an
order that each year the fees would increase in an
amount equal to the cost of living increase that
state employees received that year. Since the initial rate of $67 an hour, the compensation rate has
increased to $84 an hour in 2013.

13
Over the last decade states would
have needed to raise assigned
counsel rates by 25 percent just
to have kept pace with the
increased costs of living.

Unreasonably Low Maximum Fees

At least 26 states impose some cap or maximum
fee on appointed counsel compensation even
though the ABA Standards for Providing Defense
Services recommend that assigned counsel “be
compensated for all hours necessary to provide
quality legal representation.”9 Fee caps have been
the subject of litigation in many states over the
years and have been invalidated on a number of
grounds. Courts in Florida, Michigan, New
Hampshire and Oklahoma have invalidated fee
caps on the ground that they unduly invade the
power of the courts to regulate the practice of law

Part I — Rationing Justice: The Underfunding of Assigned Counsel Systems

and judicial proceedings.10 Courts in West
Virginia11 and Iowa12 have pointed to the perverse
economic incentives introduced into the criminal
justice system by fee caps when declaring them
invalid. At other times, courts have interpreted
statutory limitations on fees as unenforceable,
since strict adherence to them would not permit
the effective assistance of counsel.13

States continue to limit
the amount of

14

compensation that may
be earned by assigned
counsel, effectively
rationing justice.

Despite these cases, the majority of states continue
to limit the amount of compensation that may be
earned by assigned counsel, effectively rationing
justice.14 The combination of hourly rates with fee
limitations creates a finite amount of compensable time a lawyer can devote to a case. Any hours
worked that are beyond the cap effectively reduce
the hourly rate of compensation. It is important to
recognize the relationship that exists between
hourly rates and fee limitations: by dividing the
hourly rate by the maximum fee we arrive at the
maximum number of compensated hours available for assigned counsel.
New York has an hourly rate of compensation
for misdemeanors of $60 and a fee limitation of
$2,400, which means there are 40 compensated
hours available for assigned counsel.16 Alabama
has an hourly rate of compensation for misdemeanors of $70 but a fee limitation of $1,500,

which means there are approximately 21.43
compensated hours available for assigned counsel. Colorado has an hourly rate of compensation for misdemeanors of $65 and a fee
limitation of $1,000, which means there are
15.38 compensated hours available for assigned
counsel. Nevada has an hourly rate of compensation for misdemeanors of $100, the highest of
all 50 states, but a fee limitation of $750, which
means there are only 7.5 compensated hours
available for assigned counsel. What becomes
clear is that relatively high hourly rates are no
guarantee of effective representation if there are
also unreasonably low fee limitations.
It should be noted that of the 26 states that impose a cap or maximum fee on assigned counsel
compensation, 20 of them permit that maximum
to be waived under special circumstances.16
However, even in those states where there is a
“soft cap” on the level of attorney compensation,
these fee limitations undoubtedly have an impact on the willingness of judges and assigned
counsel program administrators to award additional compensation.

Flat Fees and Flat Fee Contracts

At least 20 states utilize flat fee contracts to provide indigent defense services or pay a flat rate
to assigned counsel based on the seriousness of
the charge. As previously noted, the use of flat
fee contracts makes it difficult to determine the
rate of assigned counsel compensation. These
types of contracts typically do not include caseload limitations, which calls into question
whether defense counsel’s workload can be controlled in order to ensure quality representation
as required by the ABA Ten Principles of a
Public Delivery System.

Gideon at 50: A Three-Part Examination of Indigent Defense in America

Judicial Control

Attorneys will be
compensated the same
amount regardless of how

The first of the ABA’s Ten Principles of a Public
Defense Delivery System is that the selection and
funding of assigned counsel be done independently from the judiciary. Despite that fact, at least
9 states rely primary on the trial court judge to
determine a reasonable amount of compensation
for assigned counsel.

much, or how little, work
they perform.
They also create perverse economic incentives
since attorneys will be compensated the same
amount regardless of how much, or how little,
work they perform. Despite this fact, states have
increasingly relied on flat fee contracts or compensation schedules in order to control indigent
defense costs. Some examples of current flat
rates for misdemeanor representation: Florida
$400, Connecticut $350, North Dakota $300,
New Mexico $180 and Virginia $158. The current compensation system for Wayne County,
Michigan (Detroit), actually pays attorneys
based on specific events that take place in court
with attorneys being compensated $200 more
for a guilty plea than for a dismissal. In Florida,
appointed counsel is paid a flat fee of $2,500
when defending someone who could go to
prison for life.

Current flat rates for
misdemeanor representation:
Florida $400, Connecticut
$350, North Dakota $300,
New Mexico $180
and Virginia $158.

Inadequate compensation restricts
the pool of attorneys willing to
represent indigent defendants and
threatens the quality of indigent
defense because of the perverse
economic incentives.

Resulting Negative
Impact on the Indigent
Defense Delivery System

The issues identified above have troubling implications for a public defense delivery system’s
ability to provide adequate representation.
Inadequate compensation restricts the pool of attorneys willing to represent indigent defendants
and threatens the quality of indigent defense because of perverse economic incentives.17 It creates conflicts of interest for attorneys by
encouraging them to limit the amount of work
they perform on a case for an indigent client. A
stagnant hourly rate leads to a decrease in the
overall number of attorneys willing to accept
court appointments. More experienced attorneys
refuse to participate in assigned counsel systems
that pay hourly rates far below the market rate.
Younger attorneys, who are often burdened by

Part I — Rationing Justice: The Underfunding of Assigned Counsel Systems

15

The attorney’s right to fair
compensation and the
defendant’s rights are
“inextricably linked” and
“[t]he relationship between
an attorney’s compensation
and the quality of
his or her representation

16

cannot be ignored.
student loans, never even consider joining the
defense bar.18 Even more troubling is the possibility that low hourly rates will encourage some
attorneys to accept more clients than they can
effectively represent in order to make ends meet.
The result is an inadequate, inexperienced, overworked and inherently conflicted pool of attorneys accepting court appointments in our
criminal courts.
The National Legal Aid & Defender
Association’s Standards for the Administration
of Assigned Counsel Fees makes it clear that
there needs to be a reasonable rate of compensation in order to ensure the quality of an assigned counsel system. The American Bar
Association’s Ten Principles of a Public Defense
Delivery System stresses the need for assigned
counsel compensation to be “a reasonable fee in
addition to actual overhead and expenses.”
Designation of an hourly rate, without consideration of overhead expenses, is a haphazard and
flawed method of compensation. For example,
in 1996 court-appointed counsel in Iowa were
paid an hourly rate of $45, but the mean overhead expenses for court-appointed counsel was
$36.75 an hour, resulting in an hourly rate of

$8.75.19 In 2003, it was estimated that an attorney working in New York City had hourly overhead costs of $42.88, but the rate for appointed
counsel was only $40 for in-court work and $25
for out-of-court work. Attorneys actually lost
money when handling assigned cases.20 Altman
Weil’s 2008 Survey of Law Firm Economics reported that the annual overhead costs for small
law firms, defined as those with 2 to 8 lawyers,
were $160,000 per lawyer. Assuming an attorney was able to bill for 2,000 hours of work in a
year, that would result in an overhead rate of approximately $80 an hour. Another survey by
Altman Weil reported that law firm overhead has
risen twice as fast as the consumer price index
since 1985.21
Hourly rates combined with a maximum fee cap
lead to perverse incentives and conflicts of interest. The consequence of setting a maximum
fee is that it unintentionally establishes the number of hours a lawyer “should” work on the case.
This creates a conflict of interest for lawyers
once they have worked the maximum number of
hours available for compensation. Several courts
when adjudicating challenges to the adequacy of
compensation for appointed counsel have recognized this conflict of interest. The Florida
Supreme Court stated the attorney’s right to fair
compensation and the defendant’s rights are “inextricably linked”22 and “[t]he relationship between an attorney’s compensation and the
quality of his or her representation cannot be ignored. It may be difficult for an attorney to disregard that he or she may not be reasonably
compensated for the legal services provided due
to the statutory fee limit.”23 The Supreme Court
of Iowa stated that “low compensation pits a
lawyer’s economic interest…against the interest
of the client in effective representation.”24

Gideon at 50: A Three-Part Examination of Indigent Defense in America

A study done on Virginia’s indigent defense system concluded that unreasonably low statutory
fee caps encourages assigned counsel to put in as
little effort as possible on individual cases and the
low rate of compensation discourages many qualified, competent criminal defense lawyers from
handling court-appointed cases.25 A similar study
of the indigent defense system in Pennsylvania
concluded that flat fees paid to appointed counsel
could be a disincentive to effective preparation
and advocacy and that low compensation rates
create little incentive to develop expertise in criminal defense.26 A study which compared the effectiveness of defense counsel in Philadelphia
concluded that low pay reduces the pool of attorneys willing to take appointments, makes doing
preparation uneconomical and the use of a flat fee
structure creates no marginal incentives to prepare for trial.27
Even in the states where the maximum fee can
be exceeded in special circumstances, the designation of a maximum fee still has an impact
on the level of compensation. While the maximum fee may not be an accurate estimate of the
amount of work required to provide adequate
representation, it still represents the perceived
maximum amount of compensation that can be
earned. Attorneys wishing to be awarded additional compensation need to demonstrate that
the specific facts and circumstances of their
case justify additional compensation. In addition, there are transactional costs associated
with seeking additional compensation. The time
and effort needed to file a motion seeking additional compensation discourage attorneys from
seeking additional compensation.

Providing indigent defense services through a system of flat fee contracts gives rise to the same concerns, but also creates the possibility of
unreasonably high caseloads. There is often a lack
of transparency with regard to the terms and conditions of the contract as well. Awarding a contract to provide indigent defense services to the
lowest bidder led at least one court to conclude
that the continued use of a flat fee contract to provide indigent defense services gives rise to the
presumption of ineffective assistance of counsel.28
Contracting terms and processes are often hidden
and unavailable to the public. As a result, there is
no way to exercise oversight and regulation of the
indigent defense system to ensure that defendants
are receiving effective representation.
Flat fee contracts are undoubtedly attractive to
legislatures as a way to contain costs. However, a
report by the Department of Justice found that
“good contract systems cost more per case than
do public defender or assigned counsel programs.”29 While very few empirical studies have
examined indigent defense contracting systems,
the few available show troubling consequences for
the quality of representation. One study in Clark
County, Washington, found the contracting system decreased the quality of representation, the
number of cases taken to jury trials, increased
guilty pleas at first appearances, caused a decline

“Low compensation pits a lawyer’s
economic interest…against the
interest of the client in effective
representation.”

Part I — Rationing Justice: The Underfunding of Assigned Counsel Systems

17

in motions to suppress and requests for expert assistance, and an increase in complaints from defendants.30 Another study found similar
deficiencies in representation provided under a
contracting system and concluded that, over the
long term, contracting would cost the state more
than an appointed counsel system.31

18

If a jurisdiction chooses to utilize a contracting system, several guiding criteria should be followed to
ensure effective representation. The National Legal
Aid & Defender Association’s Guidelines for
Negotiating and Awarding Governmental Contracts
for Criminal Defense Services recommends the following contractual elements: specifications for minimum professional qualifications; provisions for
support staff, forensic experts, and investigators;
compensation commensurate with experience; an
allowable caseload; ability to decline cases without
penalty when the maximum caseload is reached;
funds and staff to permit systematic and comprehensive training; a filing retention and management
system; and others.32 A Department of Justice report
affirmed the importance of many of these features.33
It is also important to recognize that the Bureau of
Justice Statistics estimates that over 80 percent of
felony defendants have publically assigned counsel.34 When we take into consideration that the vast

The Bureau of Justice Statistics
estimates that over 80 percent
of felony defendants have
publically assigned counsel.

majority of criminal defendants are classified as
indigent, it becomes clear that the rates paid to assigned counsel have a tremendous impact on the
cost of legal services. Since lawyers tend to specialize, and since the field of criminal defense has
become increasing complex, it is safe to assume
that the attorneys who participate in assigned counsel programs devote a significant portion, if not all
of their practice, to criminal defense. If these attorneys are paid an unreasonable low hourly rate
for their work as assigned counsel, the inescapable
conclusion is that they will need to charge private
clients significantly more. An unforeseen consequence of under-resourcing assigned counsel may
be an increase in the cost of legal services for those
defendants who are not classified as indigent.

Conclusion

The following table details the state of appointed
counsel compensation in all 50 states. It is undeniable that the rate of compensation is directly
linked to the quantity of attorneys willing to accept court appointments and the quality of their
representation. While some states have made improvements throughout the years, too many states
have neglected this essential element of their public defense delivery system. As a result, the current
hourly rates and maximum fee caps do not reflect
the reality of the legal marketplace. Without immediate reform, the supply of qualified attorneys
willing to take appointments will dwindle and
those attorneys who continue to accept appointments will find it almost impossible to provide effective representation.
The real issue is not that lawyers are not getting
paid what they are worth. Rather, the issue is that
they are being paid so little that they are no longer
able to participate in our indigent defense systems.
A dwindling supply of attorneys willing to partic-

Gideon at 50: A Three-Part Examination of Indigent Defense in America

ipate in assigned counsel programs exposes public
defender organizations to ever-increasing caseloads. Only a reasonable rate of compensation can
create an elastic supply of qualified private attorneys willing to be active members of the defense
bar. Without their participation, our nation’s indigent defense systems cannot guarantee that all defendants will receive equal justice under the law.

Endnotes

1. While some states permit fees in excess of statutory maximums under special circumstances, this report focuses on the
maximum fee that can be earned under normal circumstances.
2. The Spangenberg Group, RATES OF COMPENSATION PAID
TO COURT-APPOINTED COUNSEL IN NON-CAPITAL FELONY CASES AT
TRIAL: A STATE-BY-STATE OVERVIEW (2003).
3. Norman Lefstein, Securing Reasonable Caseloads: Ethics
and Law in Public Defense (2011).
4. See ABA STANDARDS FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROVIDING
DEFENSE SERVICES, STANDARD 5-2.4: COMPENSATION AND
EXPENSES (1992).
5. The District of Columbia compensates assigned counsel
at a rate of $90 an hour and limits attorney compensation to $7,000
for felonies and $2,000 for misdemeanors.
6. Powell v. Alabama, 287 U.S. 45, 68-69 (1932).
7. New York County Lawyers’ Association v. State, 196
Misc2d. 761, 763 N.Y.S.2d 397, 407 (2003).
8. Id. at 407.
9. See ABA STANDARDS FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROVIDING
DEFENSE SERVICES, STANDARD 5-2.4: COMPENSATION AND
EXPENSES (1992).
10. See White v. Board of County Commissioners, 537 So.2d
1376, 1380 (Fla. 1989); Makemson v. Martin County, 491 So.2d
1109 (Fla. 1986); In re Recorder’s Court Bar Association, 443
Mich. 110, 503 N.W.2d 885 (1993); Smith v. State, 118 N.H. 764,
394 A.2d 834 (1978); State v. Lynch, 796 P.2d 1150 (Okla. 1990).
11. Jewell v. Maynard, 181 W.Va. 571, 383 S.E.2d 536
(1989).
12. Simmons v. State Defender, 791 N.W.2d 69 (Iowa 2010).
13. Bailey v. State, 309 S.C. 455, 424 S.E.2d 503 (1992);
May v. State, 672 So.2d 1307 (Ala. Crim. App. 1993).
14. “If we are to keep our democracy, there must be one commandment: Thou shalt not ration justice.” Judge Learned Hand,
Remarks to the New York Legal Aid Society (16 February 1951).
15. But see New York County Law § 722-b(3) which permits
compensation in excess of fee limitations in extraordinary circumstances.
16. Those states are: Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Florida,
Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York,
North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia.

17. See Lavallee v. Hampden Superior Court, 442 Mass. 228,
812 N.E.2d 895 (2004)(attributing a shortage of criminal defense
attorneys to represent indigent defendants to the low rate of attorney compensation); see also Gershowitz, Raise the Proof: A
Default Rule for Indigent Defense, 40 Conn. L. Rev. 85, 96
(2007)(“Because funding for indigent defense is so low, competent lawyers usually refuse to take appointed cases.”).
18. See Final Report of the ABA Commission on Loan
Repayment and Forgiveness, LIFTING THE BURDEN: LAW SCHOOL
DEBT AS A BARRIER TO PUBLIC SERVICE (2003).
19. Robert R. Rigg, The Constitution, Compensation, and
Competence: A Case Study, 27 Am. J. Crim. L. 1, 25-26 (1999)
(citing Iowa State Bar Association Indigent Defense Survey).
20. New York County Lawyers’ Association v. State, 196
Misc2d. 761, 763 N.Y.S.2d 397, 407 (2003).
21. See Altman Weil, SURVEY OF LAW FIRM ECONOMICS:
TREND COMPARISON OF OVERHEAD EXPENSES (2003).
22. Makemson v. Martin County, 491 So.2d 1109, 1112
(1986).
23. White v. Bd. of County Com’rs of Pinellas County, 537
So.2d 1376, 1380 (1989).
24. Simmons v. State Public Defender, 791 N.W.2d 69, 88
(2010).
25. The Spangenberg Group, A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF
INDIGENT DEFENSE IN VIRGINIA 86 (2004).
26. Pennsylvania Supreme Court, FINAL REPORT OF THE
PENNSYLVANIA SUPREME COURT COMMITTEE ON RACIAL AND
GENDER BIAS IN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM 168 (2003).
27. James M. Anderson, Paul Heaton, MEASURING THE EFFECT
OF DEFENSE COUNSEL ON HOMICIDE CASE OUTCOMES (2013) available at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/241158.pdf
28. State v. Smith, 140 Ariz. 355, 681 P.2d 1374 (1984).
29. Bureau of Justice Assistance, Dep’t of Justice,
CONTRACTING FOR INDIGENT DEFENSE SERVICES 17 (April 2000)
(noting several additional characteristics shared by effective contract systems, including independent oversight and monitoring,
limitations on the practice of law outside the contract, guidelines
on client contact and notification of appointment, and a mechanism for oversight and evaluation).
30. Id. at 10. (citing Lefstein, Norman, CRIMINAL DEFENSE
SERVICES FOR THE POOR: METHODS AND PROGRAMS FOR PROVIDING
LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND THE NEED FOR ADEQUATE FINANCING
(1982)).
31. Id. (citing Houlden, Pauline, and Steven Balkin, QUALITY
AND COST COMPARISONS OF PRIVATE BAR INDIGENT DEFENSE
SYSTEMS: CONTRACT VS. ORDERED ASSIGNED COUNSEL, Journal of
Criminal Law and Criminology 76:176 (1985)).
32 See NLADA, GUIDELINES FOR NEGOTIATING AND
AWARDING GOVERNMENTAL CONTRACTS FOR CRIMINAL DEFENSE
SERVICES (1984).
33. Bureau of Justice Assistance, Dep’t of Justice,
CONTRACTING FOR INDIGENT DEFENSE SERVICES 16 (April 2000).
34. United States Department of Justice, Office of Justice
Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, DEFENSE COUNSEL IN
CRIMINAL CASES (2000).

Part I — Rationing Justice: The Underfunding of Assigned Counsel Systems

19

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS
50-State Survey of Trial Court Assigned Counsel Rates for 2013
STATE

HOURLY RATE

MAXIMUM FEE*

Alabama

$70

Class A Felony: $4,000
Class B Felony: $3,000
Class C Felony: $2,000
Misdemeanors: $1,500

YEAR ENACTED

2011

Authority: Code of Alabama 1975 § 15-12-21

20

Alaska

$60 in court
$50 out of court

Felony Trial: $4,000
1986
Felony disposition without trial: $2,000
Misdemeanor trial: $800
Misdemeanor Disposition without trial: $400

Authority: Alaska Administrative Code Title 2 § 60.010

Arizona

Varies by county

None

2005

Maricopa County (Phoenix)
$70 for major felonies
(such as murder or manslaughter)
Uses a flat fee for other charges
Class 1,2,3 Felony: $1,250
Class 4,5,6 Felony: $900
Misdemeanor: $400
Authority: Arizona Revised Statute § 13-4013(A):
Compensation for services rendered to the defendant shall be in an amount that
the court in its discretion deems reasonable, considering the services performed.

Arkansas

Class A or Y Felony: $70 - $90
Other felony:$60 - $80
Misdemeanor: $50 - $80

None

2012

Travel hours paid at ½ hourly rate
Authority: Arkansas Code Annotated § 16-87-211(b)(2) ............................2001
Directs the Arkansas Public Defender Commission to establish rates
Payment & Expense Reimbursement Guidelines............................................2012

*Maximum fees listed in italics are subject to waiver under special circumstances.

Gideon at 50: A Three-Part Examination of Indigent Defense in America

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS
50-State Survey of Trial Court Assigned Counsel Rates for 2013
STATE

HOURLY RATE

MAXIMUM FEE*

California

Varies by county

None

YEAR ENACTED

1951

San Francisco Superior Court
Indigent Defense Administration:
Serious felonies: $106
Felonies: $89
Misdemeanors: $66
Authority: California Penal Code § 987.2:
Assigned counsel shall receive a reasonable sum for compensation and for
necessary expenses, the amount of which shall be determined by the court

Colorado

Type A Felony: $68
Type B Felony: $65
Misdemeanors:$65

Class 1 Felonies with trial / without trial:
2008
$24,000 / $12,000
Class 2 Felonies with trial / without trial:
$10,000 / $5,000
Class 3 - 6 Felonies with trial / without trial:
$6,000 / $3,000
Misdemeanors with trial / without trial:
$2,000 / $1,000

Authority: Chief Justice Directive 04-04

Connecticut

Felony: $75
Misdemeanor: $50

Most cases are handled through
2013
flat rate contracts:
Class A and B Felonies: $1,000 per case
Class C Felony and Misdemeanor: $350 per case

Authority: Connecticut Public Defender Services Commission

Delaware

$60 maximum

Felonies: $2,000
Misdemeanors: $1,000

Authority: Rules of Criminal Procedure for the Superior
Court of the State of Delaware Rule 44(c)(1)

*Maximum fees listed in italics are subject to waiver under special circumstances.

Part I — Rationing Justice: The Underfunding of Assigned Counsel Systems

2012

21

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS
50-State Survey of Trial Court Assigned Counsel Rates for 2013
STATE

HOURLY RATE

MAXIMUM FEE*

Florida

Flat rate which varies
depending on the
offense charged

Statutory Maximums
Life felony: $3,000
Felony: $2,500
Misdemeanor: $1,000

YEAR ENACTED

2003

Flat Rates
Life felony: $2,500
Felony: $750 to $1,500
Misdemeanor: $400

22

Authority: Florida Statute Annotated § 27.5304 (sets maximum compensation)
& Annual General Appropriations Act (sets flat rate)

Georgia

Georgia Public Defender
Standards Council contracts
with individual attorneys

Flat fee structure authorized by statute

2011

Authority: Code of Georgia Annotated § 17-12-22

Hawaii

$90

Felony: $6,000
Misdemeanor jury trial: $3,000
Misdemeanor: $1,500
Petty Misdemeanor: $900

2005

Authority: Hawaii Revised Statute § 802-5

Idaho

The court shall prescribe
a reasonable rate of
compensation

None

1998

Authority: Idaho Official Code § 19-860(b)

Illinois

For Cook County
$40 in court
$30 out of court

For Cook County
Felony: $1,250
Misdemeanor: $150

2000

All other counties establish
rates independently
Authority: 725 Illinois Compiled Statutes § 5/113-3

*Maximum fees listed in italics are subject to waiver under special circumstances.

Gideon at 50: A Three-Part Examination of Indigent Defense in America

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS
50-State Survey of Trial Court Assigned Counsel Rates for 2013
STATE

HOURLY RATE

MAXIMUM FEE*

Indiana

Determined by court

None

YEAR ENACTED

2012

Indiana Public Defender
Commission Standards:
Not less than $70
Authority: Indiana Code 33-40-8-2 & ..........................................................2004
Indiana Public Defender Commission Standards for
Indigent Defense Services in Non-Capital Cases ............................................2012

State Public Defender
authorized to use
flat fee contracts

Iowa

If not under contract
then Class A Felony: $70
Class B Felony: $65
All other charges: $60

State Public Defender has
established fee limitations
Class A Felony: $18,000
Class B Felony: $3,600
Class C & D Felonies and
Aggravated Misdemeanors: $1,200
Serious Misdemeanors: $600
Simple Misdemeanors: $300

2007

Authority: Iowa Code Annotated § 13B.4 (flat fee contracts) &
Iowa Code Annotated § 815.7 (hourly rates)

Kansas

$80 an hour but can be
lowered by the Chief Judge
of any Judicial District or the
Kansas Board of Indigent
Defense Services

Kansas Board of Indigent
Defense Services sets
maximum fees for some felonies:
Varies from $930 to $1,240

2007

Rate set by Board: $62
Authority: Kansas Statutes Annotated § 22-4507 &
Kansas Administrative Regulations 105-5-2, 105-5-6

Kentucky

Department of Public
Advocacy uses mostly flat fee
contracts but has proposed
hourly rates of
$100 for felonies and
$75 for misdemeanors

Department of Public Advocacy uses
mostly flat fee contracts but has
proposed caps ranging from $2,500 for
class A felonies to $375 for
misdemeanors in non-trial cases

Authority: Kentucky Revised Statutes Annotated § 31.235
*Maximum fees listed in italics are subject to waiver under special circumstances.

Part I — Rationing Justice: The Underfunding of Assigned Counsel Systems

2002

23

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS
50-State Survey of Trial Court Assigned Counsel Rates for 2013
STATE

HOURLY RATE

MAXIMUM FEE*

Louisiana

Uses flat fee Contracts

None

YEAR ENACTED

2007

Authority: Louisiana Revised Statutes Annotated § 15:147

$50

Maine

Class A Crime (max. sentence
of 30 years): $2,500

2012

Class B & C Crimes against a
person (max. sentence of
10 & 5 years respectively): $1,875

24

Class B & C Crimes against property
(max. sentence of 10 & 5 years
respectively): $1,250
Class D & E Crimes against a person
(max. sentence of 1 year & 6 months
respectively): $625 in Superior Court or
$450 in District Court
Authority: Code of Maine Rules § 94-649, Chapter 301

Maryland Administrative
Code calls for the same
hourly rate as federal panel
attorneys “as the annual
budget permits”

Maryland

Felonies: $3,000

2008

Misdemeanors: $750

Current rate: $50
Authority: Maryland Code of Criminal Procedure § 16-207
Maryland Administrative Code 14.06.02.06

Massachusetts

$60 in Superior Court

None+

2011

$50 in District Court
Authority: Massachusetts General Laws Annotated 211D § 11

+There is no per case maximum but there is an annual cap on billable hours of 1,650.
*Maximum fees listed in italics are subject to waiver under special circumstances.

Gideon at 50: A Three-Part Examination of Indigent Defense in America

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS
50-State Survey of Trial Court Assigned Counsel Rates for 2013
STATE

HOURLY RATE

MAXIMUM FEE*

Michigan

Varies by County:
Reasonable compensation
as determined by
the chief judge

Counties often use flat
fee contracts

YEAR ENACTED

1981

In Wayne County (Detroit)
attorneys are initially paid a
flat fee based on the possible
sentence and are then
paid by the “event.”

25

Initial flat fee for case with
potential sentence of
5 years: $250
5 - 10 years: $300
10 - 20 years: $350
For a “Disposition Conference”
that results in: a dismissal $130
a guilty plea $350
Sentencing: $60
Evidentiary Hearing: $80
Jury Trial ½ day: $90
Authority: Michigan Compiled Law Annotated 775.16 § 11

Minnesota

State Board of Public Defense Relies on flat fee contracts
determines compensation rates
but relies on flat fee contracts

1991

Authority: Minnesota Statutes Annotated § 611.215

Mississippi

Judge approves amount
of compensation

$1,000 in Circuit Court
$200 if the case does not
originate in a court of record

Authority: Mississippi Code Annotated § 99-15-17

*Maximum fees listed in italics are subject to waiver under special circumstances.

Part I — Rationing Justice: The Underfunding of Assigned Counsel Systems

1971

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS
50-State Survey of Trial Court Assigned Counsel Rates for 2013
STATE

HOURLY RATE

MAXIMUM FEE*

Missouri

Public Defender
Commission uses flat
fee contracts with
individual attorneys

Additional compensation is
provided if the case goes to trial

YEAR ENACTED

1982

Class A or B Felony
$750 to $2,000

26

Class C or D Felony
$750 to $1,500
Misdemeanor $375
Authority: Missouri Revised Statutes § 600.042

Montana

$60

None

2012

Plus an additional office
stipend of $25 per month
Authority: Montana Code Annotated § 47-1-216 ........................................2005
The Montana Public Defender Commission has the authority
to set rates of compensation
Office of State Public Defender Administrative
Policy 130: Fee Schedule 2012 ......................................................................2012

Nebraska

Varies by county

None

1995

Lancaster County (Lincoln):
$75 District Court
$50 County Court
Authority: Revised Statutes of Nebraska § 29-3927
Empowers the Commission on Public Advocacy to set rates

Nevada

$100

Felony or Gross Misdemeanor: $2,500
Misdemeanor: $750

2003

Authority: Nevada Revised Statutes Annotated § 7.125

*Maximum fees listed in italics are subject to waiver under special circumstances.

Gideon at 50: A Three-Part Examination of Indigent Defense in America

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS
50-State Survey of Trial Court Assigned Counsel Rates for 2013
HOURLY RATE

STATE

New Hampshire $60

MAXIMUM FEE*

YEAR ENACTED

Felonies: $4,100

2008

Misdemeanors: $1,400
Authority: Superior Court Rules, Rule 47

New Jersey

$60 in court

None≠

2012

27

$50 out of court
Authority: New Jersey Statutes Annotated § 2A:158A-7 .............................1967
Empowers the Public Defender to establish rates
Office of the Public Defender Pool Attorney Application Process................2012

New Mexico

New Mexico Public
Defender Department
uses flat fee contracts

Flat fee based on seriousness
of the offense

2012

Felonies
1st Degree: $700
2nd Degree: $650
3rd Degree: $595
4th Degree: $540
Misdemeanor: $180
Authority: New Mexico Statutes Annotated § 31-15-7(11) .........................1978
Empowers the New Mexico Public Defender Department to establish rates
Contract Counsel Legal Services Requests for Proposals................................2012

New York

Felony: $75
Misdemeanor: $60

Felony: $4,400
Misdemeanor: $2,400

Authority: New York County Law § 722-b

≠Attorneys may only bill up to 9 hours on any given day.
*Maximum fees listed in italics are subject to waiver under special circumstances.

Part I — Rationing Justice: The Underfunding of Assigned Counsel Systems

2003

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS
50-State Survey of Trial Court Assigned Counsel Rates for 2013
STATE

HOURLY RATE

MAXIMUM FEE*

North Carolina

Class A – D
Felonies: $70
All other cases in
District Court: $55

None

YEAR ENACTED

2012

Authority: General Statutes of North Carolina § 7A-498.5 ............................2001
Office of Indigent Defense Services sets rates
Private Assigned Counsel Rates ......................................................................2012

28
North Dakota

$75

Presumed rates
Felony: $525 (7 hours worked)
Misdemeanor: $300 (4 hours worked)

2012

Authority: North Dakota Century Code § 29-07-0.1.1...................................2005
The Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents sets rates
Presumed Rate for Attorney Fee Reimbursement ...........................................2012

Ohio

$60 in court
$50 out of court

Felonies
1st to 3rd Degree: $3,000
4th and 5th Degree: $2,500
Misdemeanors: $1,000

2003

Authority: Ohio Revised Code § 120.041975 ...............................................1975
Ohio Public Defender sets assigned counsel rates
and maximum levels of compensation
Standards & Guidelines for Appointed Counsel Reimbursement .................2000
State Maximum Fee Schedule ......................................................................2003

Oklahoma

Oklahoma Indigent Defense
System uses flat
fee contracts

Felony: $3,500
Misdemeanor: $800

1993

Authority: Oklahoma Statutes Title 22 § 1355.8

*Maximum fees listed in italics are subject to waiver under special circumstances.

Gideon at 50: A Three-Part Examination of Indigent Defense in America

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS
50-State Survey of Trial Court Assigned Counsel Rates for 2013
STATE

HOURLY RATE

MAXIMUM FEE*

Oregon

$45

None

YEAR ENACTED

2013

Authority: Oregon Revised Statutes § 151.216.............................................2001
Oregon Public Defense Services Commission sets rates
Public Defense Payment Policies and Procedures..........................................2013

Pennsylvania

Varies by county
Judge determines
reasonable compensation

Some counties use flat fee schedules

1969

29

Alleghany County (Pittsburgh)
Preparation for Serious felonies
(rape, robbery, child abuse): $1,500
All other cases: $500
Preliminary hearings: $250
Trial ½ day: $250
Trial full day: $500

Authority: 16 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes § 9960.7

Rhode Island

Class 1 Felony: $90

Class 1 Felony: $10,00

Class 2 Felony: $60

Class 2 Felony: $5,000

Misdemeanor: $50

Misdemeanor: $1,500

2012

Authority: General Laws of Rhode Island § 8-15-2 .......................................1956
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court has authority to set rates
Supreme Court Executive Order No. 2016-06 ...............................................2012

South Carolina

$60 in court
$40 out of court

Felony: $3,500
Misdemeanor: $1,000

Authority: Code of Laws of South Carolina § 17-3-50

*Maximum fees listed in italics are subject to waiver under special circumstances.

Part I — Rationing Justice: The Underfunding of Assigned Counsel Systems

1993

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS
50-State Survey of Trial Court Assigned Counsel Rates for 2013
STATE

HOURLY RATE

MAXIMUM FEE*

South Dakota

$84

None

YEAR ENACTED

2013

Authority: South Dakota Codified Laws § 23A-40-8 ....................................1983
Judge has authority to set rates
Unified Judicial System Policy regarding court appointed attorney fees......2013

Tennessee

30

$50 in court
$40 out of court

Felony: $1,500
Misdemeanor: $1,000

2005

Authority: Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 13

Texas

Varies by county
Varies by county
Average payment to
defense counsel in the five
largest counties (Harris, Dallas,
Tarrant, Bexar & Travis)

2011

Felony: $653
Misdemeanor: $120**
Authority: Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 26.05
County judges authorized to set rates

Utah

Counties often use flat
fee contracts

Felony: $3,500
Misdemeanor: $1,000

1997

Average attorney compensation for felony cases: $400++
Authority: Utah Code Annotated § 77-32-304.5
Trial judge sets rates, subject to statutory maximums

§ State of South Dakota Unified Judicial System policy is to increase court appointed attorney fees
in an amount equal to any cost of living increase for state employees approved by the legislature.
**“Harris County Public Defender Preliminary Report on Operations and Outcomes”
prepared by the Council of State Governments Justice Center (2012)
++“Failing Gideon: Utah’s Flawed County by County Public Defender System”
American Civil Liberty Union of Utah (2011)
*Maximum fees listed in italics are subject to waiver under special circumstances.

Gideon at 50: A Three-Part Examination of Indigent Defense in America

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS
50-State Survey of Trial Court Assigned Counsel Rates for 2013
STATE

HOURLY RATE

MAXIMUM FEE*

Vermont

$50

Major Felony: $5,000
Minor Felony: $2,000
Misdemeanor: $1,000

YEAR ENACTED

1994

Authority: 13 Vermont Statutes Annotated Title 13 § 5205 .........................1981
Courts set rates
Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 4...................................................1994

Virginia

Attorneys are paid a statutory District Court $240
fee based on the charge
Circuit Court Felony punishable by
District Court $120
more than 20 years: $2,085
Circuit Court Felony
punishable by more than
20 years: $1,235

2013

All other felonies: $600
Misdemeanors punishable by jail: $158

All other felonies: $445
Misdemeanors punishable
by jail: $158
Authority: Code of Virginia Annotated § 19.2-163 ......................................2007
Court sets rates, subject to statutory limits
Supreme Court of Virginia Chart of Allowances 2013....................................2013

Washington

Varies by county

Varies by county

King County (Seattle)
Class A Felony: $70
Class B/C Felony: $55
Misdemeanor: $50

Many counties use flat fee contracts

Authority: Revised Code of Washington Annotated § 36.26.090
Court awards reasonable compensation

*Maximum fees listed in italics are subject to waiver under special circumstances.

Part I — Rationing Justice: The Underfunding of Assigned Counsel Systems

1984

31

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS
50-State Survey of Trial Court Assigned Counsel Rates for 2013
STATE

HOURLY RATE

MAXIMUM FEE*

West Virginia

$65 in court

$3,000

YEAR ENACTED

1990

$45 out of court
Authority: West Virginia Code § 29-21-13(a)

Wisconsin

32

$40

None

1995

Authority: Wisconsin Statutes § 977.08

Wyoming

$100 in court Maximum
None
Minimum $30 and
Maximum $60 for out of court

2007

Authority: Wyoming Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 44(e)

*Maximum fees listed in italics are subject to waiver under special circumstances.

Gideon at 50: A Three-Part Examination of Indigent Defense in America

This publication is available online at

www.nacdl.org/gideonat50/

N ATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS

1660 L Street NW, 12th Floor
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-872-8600

www.nacdl.org