INCREASE FEES PAID TO ASSIGNED COUNSEL

Resolution Adopted by the Democratic State Committee --  May 4, 2001 

      Whereas compensation for counsel assigned in Criminal and Family courts in the State of New York pursuant to Section 18B of the County Law is deplorable and has led to a crisis in the courts of New York; 

            Whereas compensation for counsel assigned in Criminal and Family courts in the State of New York pursuant to Section 18B is $40.00 an hour for in court  work and $25.00 for out of Court work; 

            Whereas compensation for counsel assigned in Criminal and Family courts in the State of New York pursuant to Section 18B is the second lowest in the United States of America; 

            Whereas countless attorneys throughout New York State are unable to take assignments pursuant to Section 18B of the County Law due to extremely low compensation;  

            Whereas the shortage of attorneys able to take assignments in New York has created a crisis in the Courts New York, and there are not enough attorneys to staff matters; 

            Whereas the Chief Judge of the State of New York has recognized the severity of the crisis concerning assigned counsel in New York and has repeatedly called for a substantial increase in the rate of compensation to $75.00 an hour;  

            Be It Hereby Resolved, that New York State Democratic Committee calls on all with authority in the Government of the State of New York to pass legislation as soon as possible increasing the compensation to counsel appointed pursuant  to Section 18B of the County Law in accordance with the recommendations of  Judith Kaye, the Chief Judge of New York State. 

            This resolution was written by Justin Brasch and Jonathan Bing, adopted by the Manhattan Caucus and the Reform Caucus of the NY Democratic State Committee, and adopted at the meeting of the Democratic State Committee in Albany, NY on May 4, 2001.

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