SB318 Alabama 2017 Session

Under existing law, appointed indigent defense counsel representing an indigent in a trial court or during an appeal is paid a fee based on the number of hours reasonably spent working on the case, computed at the rate of $70 per hour

This bill would increase the rate of the fee paid to appointed indigent counsel for representation of an indigent in a trial court or during an appeal to a rate of not lower than $125 per hour

This bill would also increase the caps on total fees indigent counsel can charge the state for representing an indigent to a level commensurate with the increase in the rate of fee paid for indigent representation in a trial or appeals court

Relating to indigents; to amend Sections 15-12-21 and 15-12-22, Code of Alabama 1975, to increase the rate of the fee paid to appointed indigent counsel for the representation of an indigent in a trial court or during an appeal to a rate of not lower than $125 per hour; to increase the caps on total fees indigent counsel may charge for representing an indigent to a level commensurate with the increase in the rate of fee paid for indigent representation during trial or appeal.