City of Columbus - File #: 0117-2005

• File #: 0117-2005
• Version: 1
• Type: Ordinance
• Status: Passed
• File created: 1/13/2005
• In control: Safety Committee
• On agenda: 1/31/2005
• Final action: 2/2/2005
• Title: To authorize the Franklin County Municipal Court Judges, through the Administrative/Presiding Judge, to contract with the Franklin County Commissioners to provide legal counsel to indigent defendants in the Franklin County Municipal Court when the public defender has a conflict of interest; to authorize the expenditure up to an amount not to exceed $500,000.00 from the General Fund, and to declare an emergency. ($500,000.00)

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
2/2/2005	1	CITY CLERK	Attest
2/1/2005	1	MAYOR	Signed
1/31/2005	1	Columbus City Council	Approved	Pass
1/31/2005	1	COUNCIL PRESIDENT	Signed
1/20/2005	1	CITY ATTORNEY	Reviewed and Approved
1/20/2005	1	MUNICRTJUDGES DIRECTOR	Sent to Clerk's Office for Council
1/19/2005	1	ODI DIRECTOR	Reviewed and Approved
1/19/2005	1	MUNICRTJUDGES DIRECTOR	Reviewed and Approved
1/19/2005	1	Auditor Reviewer	Contingent
1/19/2005	1	CITY AUDITOR	Reviewed and Approved
1/19/2005	1	MUNICRTJUDGES DIRECTOR	Reviewed and Approved
1/18/2005	1	FINANCE DIRECTOR	Reviewed and Approved
1/18/2005	1	MUNICRTJUDGES DIRECTOR	Reviewed and Approved
1/18/2005	1	EBOCO Reviewer	Sent for Approval
1/14/2005	1	Finance Reviewer	Reviewed and Approved
1/13/2005	1	MuniCrtJudges Drafter	Sent for Approval
1/13/2005	1	MUNICRTJUDGES DIRECTOR	Reviewed and Approved

Explanation

The Municipal Court Judges have been allocated funding since 1985 to pay court appointed counsel when the public defender has a conflict of interest.

This legislation is necessary since the Court has a responsibility under the laws of the State of Ohio and of The United States of America to provide legal counsel to indigent persons charged with serious offenses and loss of liberty offenses, when the public defender has a conflict of interest. Also, this legislation is considered an emergency measure primarily because of the effective date of January 1, 2005 and the length of time involved for contract approval and ultimate submission of these funds to Franklin County.

EMERGENCY ACTION is requested in order to have a contract in place with the Franklin County Commissioners as soon as possible.

FISCAL IMPACT: $500,000.00 has been allocated for this expenditure within our 2005 budget.


Title

To authorize the Franklin County Municipal Court Judges, through the Administrative/Presiding Judge, to contract with the Franklin County Commissioners to provide legal counsel to indigent defendants in the Franklin County Municipal Court when the public defender has a conflict of interest; to authorize the expenditure up to an amount not to exceed $500,000.00 from the General Fund, and to declare an emergency. ($500,000.00)

Body

WHEREAS, the Court recognizes a responsibility to provide legal representation to indigents through an appointed counsel system when the public defender has a conflict of interest; and

WHEREAS, funds in the amount of up to $500,000.00 are budgeted within the Franklin County Municipal Court Judges for this contractual agreement; and

WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Franklin County Municipal Court Judges in that it is immediately necessary to authorize a contract with the Franklin County Commissioners in order to assure the continuity of legal services to indigent perso...