Explanation
BACKGROUND:
The Municipal Court Judges have been provided funding since 1985 to pay court-appointed counsel when the public defender has a conflict of interest.
This legislation authorizes the Franklin County Municipal Court Judges to enter into contract with the Franklin County Commissioners and authorizes the expenditure for the purpose of providing court-appointed counsel. This legislation is necessary since it is the Court's 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.
FISCAL IMPACT: The amount for the expenditure is budgeted and available within the Court's 2018 general fund budget.
$50,000.00 was spent in 2017.
$50,000.00 was spent in 2016.
Title
To authorize the Franklin County Municipal Court Judges, through the Administrative and 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 of up to an amount not to exceed $50,000.00 from the Court's general fund. ($50,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Court has a responsibility to provide legal representation to indigent persons through an appointed counsel system when the public defender has a conflict of interest; and
WHEREAS, funds in an amount not to exceed $50,000 is budgeted for the Franklin County Municipal Court Judges for this contractual agreement; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Franklin County Municipal Court Judges to authorize a contract and associated expenditures with the Franklin County Commissioners in order to assure the continuity of legal services to indigent persons when the public defender has a conflict of interest, thereby preserving the publ...
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