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Rule 39. Appointment of Counsel.
(a) Informing Defendant of Right to Counsel. The court shall advise a defendant who appears without counsel for arraignment, change of plea, or trial of the right to be represented by counsel, and ask if defendant desires the aid of counsel. The court shall not allow a defendant to proceed without an attorney unless the defendant understands the benefits of counsel and knowingly waives the right to counsel.
(b) Appointment of Counsel for Persons Financially Unable to Employ Counsel.
(1) If defendant desires the aid of counsel but claims a financial inability to employ counsel, the court or its designee shall determine whether defendant is an "indigent person," as defined by statute, by placing defendant under oath and asking about defendant's financial status, or by requiring defendant to complete a signed sworn financial statement. The court shall order defendant to execute a general waiver authorizing release of income information to the court. The court may require defendant to attempt to arrange private representation before the court makes a final determination on indigency.
(2) Before the court appoints counsel for an indigent defendant at public expense, the court shall advise defendant that defendant will be ordered to repay the prosecuting authority for the cost of appointed counsel, in accordance with paragraph (d) of this rule, if the defendant is convicted of an offense. The court may enter such orders as appear reasonably necessary to prevent defendant from dissipating assets to avoid payment of this cost.
(3) If the court or its designee determines that the defendant is an "indigent person," the court shall appoint counsel pursuant to Administrative Rule 12 and notify counsel of the appointment.
(4) In the absence of a request by a defendant otherwise entitled to appointment of counsel, the court shall appoint counsel unless the court finds that the defendant understands the benefits of counsel and knowingly waives the right to counsel.
(5) If the trial court denies defendant's request for appointed counsel, defendant may request review of this decision by the presiding judge of the judicial district by filing a motion with the trial court within three days after the date of notice, as defined in Criminal Rule 32.3(c), of the denial. The trial court shall forward the motion, relevant materials from the court file, and a cassette tape of any relevant proceedings to the presiding judge. The presiding judge or his or her designee shall issue a decision within three days of receipt of these materials.
(c) Costs of Appointed Counsel.
(1) Entry of Judgment.
(A) Upon conviction of an offense, revocation of probation, denial of a motion to withdraw plea, and denial of a motion brought under Criminal Rule 35.1, the court shall prepare a notice of intent to enter judgment for the cost of appointed counsel in accordance with paragraph (d) of this rule, provide a copy of the notice to defendant, and order defendant to apply for permanent fund dividends every year in which the defendant qualifies for a dividend until the judgment is paid in full.
(B) Defendant may oppose entry of judgment by filing a written opposition within 10 days after the date of notice, as defined in Criminal Rule 32.3(c), of the court's intent to enter judgment. The opposition shall specifically set out the grounds for opposing entry of judgment. The prosecuting authority may oppose the amount of the judgment by filing a written opposition within the same deadline.
(C) If no opposition is filed within the time specified in section 39(c)(1)(B), the clerk shall enter judgment against defendant for the amount shown in the notice. If a timely opposition is filed, the court may set the matter for a hearing and shall have authority to enter the judgment.
(D) The judgment must be in writing. A copy of the judgment shall be mailed to defendant's address of record. The judgment shall bear interest at the rate specified in AS 09.30.070(a) from the date judgment is entered.
(2) Collection.
(A) The judgment has the same force and effect as a judgment in a civil action in favor of the prosecuting authority and is subject to execution.
(B) All proceedings to enforce the judgment shall be in accordance with the statutes and court rules applicable to civil judgments. The judgment is not enforceable by contempt. Payment of the judgment may not be made a condition of a defendant's probation. Default or failure to pay the judgment may not affect or reduce the rendering of services on appeal or any other phase of a defendant's case in any way. A defendant does not have a right to be represented by appointed counsel in connection with proceedings under subparagraph 39(c) or any proceedings to collect the judgment.
(C) Upon showing of financial hardship, the court shall allow a defendant subject to a judgment under this rule to make payments under a repayment schedule. A defendant may petition the court at any time for remission, reduction or deferral of the unpaid portion of the judgment. The court may remit or reduce the balance owing on the judgment or change the method of payment if the payment would impose manifest hardship on the defendant or defendant's immediate family.
(D) Notwithstanding section 39(c)(2)(B), a defendant may be held in contempt for failing to comply with an order under this rule to apply for a permanent fund dividend.
(3) Appeal.
(A) If defendant appeals the conviction, enforcement of the judgment may be stayed by the trial court or the appellate court upon such terms as the court deems proper.
(B) If defendant's conviction is reversed, the clerk shall vacate the judgment and order the prosecuting authority to repay all sums paid in satisfaction of the judgment, plus interest at the rate specified in AS 09.30.070(a).
(d) Schedule of Costs. The following schedules govern the assessment of costs of appointed counsel under paragraph 39(c). If a defendant is convicted of more than one offense in a single dispositive court proceeding, costs shall be based on the most serious offense of which the defendant is convicted. If a defendant is otherwise convicted of more than one offense, costs shall be separately assessed for each conviction. For good cause shown, the court may waive the schedule of costs and assess fees up to the actual cost of appointed counsel, including actual expenses.
Misdemeanors
Trial $500.00
Change of plea 200.00
Post-conviction relief or
contested probation revocation
proceedings in the trial court 250.00
Felonies
Class Class A Murder in
B & C and the 1st and
Unclassified 2nd Degrees
(Except
(Murder)
Trial $1,500.00 $2,500.00 $5,000.00
Change of plea
after substantive
motion work and
hearing and
before trial
commences 1,000.00 1,500.00 2,500.00
Change of plea
post-indictment
but prior to
substantive
motion work
and hearing 500.00 1,000.00 2,000.00
Change of plea
prior to
indictment 250.00 500.00 750.00
Post-conviction
relief or probation
revocation
proceeding
in trial court 250.00 500.00 750.00
(e) Review of Defendant's Financial Condition.
(1) The court may review defendant's financial status at any time after appointment of counsel to determine (A) whether defendant continues to be an "indigent person," as defined by statute; or (B) whether defendant was an indigent person at the time counsel was appointed.
(2) If the court determines that defendant is no longer an indigent person, the court may
(A) terminate the appointment; or
(B) continue the appointment and, at the conclusion of the criminal proceedings against defendant in the trial court, enter judgment against the defendant for the actual cost of appointed counsel, including actual expenses, from the date of the change in the defendant's financial status through the conclusion of the trial court proceedings.
(3) If the court determines that defendant was not an indigent person at the time counsel was appointed, the court may
(A) terminate the appointment and enter judgment against defendant for the actual costs of appointed counsel, including actual expenses, from the date of appointment through the date of termination; or
(B) continue the appointment and, at the conclusion of the criminal proceedings against defendant in the trial court, enter judgment against defendant for the actual cost of appointed counsel from the date of the appointment through the conclusion of the trial court proceedings.
(4) A defendant may request review of the court's decision to terminate the appointment according to the procedure set out in subparagraph 39(b)(5).
(5) Judgment may be entered against a defendant under this paragraph regardless of whether the defendant is convicted of an offense.
(Adopted by SCO 4 October 4, 1959; amended by SCO 90 effective July 24, 1967: by SCO 157 effective February 15, 1973; by Amendment No. 4 to SCO 157 dated March 12, 1973; by SCO 187 effective July 2, 1974; by SCO 328 effective January 1, 1979; by SCO 448 effective November 24 1980; by SCO 677 effective June 15, 1986; and by SCO 888 effective July 15, 1988; rescinded and re-promulgated by SCO 1088 effective July 1, 1992; amended by SCO 1139 effective July 1, 1993; and by SCO 1145 effective October 1, 1993)
Dissent to SCO 1088:
RABINOWITZ, Chief Justice, with whom COMPTON, Justice, joins, dissenting:
I am not persuaded that either existing Criminal Rule 39, or Appellate Rule 209, requires amendment. I think it can be safely predicted that these amendments will have a chilling effect on an indigent defendant's obtaining the services of appointed counsel as well as on an indigent defendant's decision whether or not to seek review or to appeal.
NOTE: AS 18.85.170(4) defines "indigent person" for purposes of public defender appointments as "a person who, at the time need is determined, does not have sufficient assets, credit, or other means to provide for payment of an attorney and all other necessary expenses of representation without depriving the party or the party's dependents of food, clothing, or shelter and who has not disposed of any assets since the commission of the offense with the intent or for the purpose of establishing eligibility for assistance under this chapter."
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Copyright 1995-1999 by Touch N' Go Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. No copyright claim is made to the text of the rules.
Last Modified 7/14/1999