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Trial Assigned Counsel Fees by Circuit
Circuit |
Basis |
Fee Set |
Rate |
Expenses |
Comments |
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1st Hillsdale |
Contract with 3 firms |
1998 |
Firm #1 (40%): $31,200 |
Additional for expert witnesses, transcripts, subpoena and witness fees, costs of venue change, upon application. |
More than 8 hours on life offense: $65/hr. |
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2nd Berrien |
Contract with 11 attnys. |
1998 |
Felonies, misdemeanors, paternity, non-support: $420,000 |
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3rd Wayne |
Event, scaled to max. sentence exposure |
1994 |
Prelim.: $90 - $190 |
Additional for experts: $300 (interview and eval.); $150 court appearance |
New rules on assignments (AO 1998-7). |
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4th Jackson |
Contract/Event with 6 firms (10 attnys) |
1997-98, two-year |
Formula divides case assignments, each firm to get percentage of murder, capital, non-capital and miscellaneous |
Additional for transcripts, witness fees, mileage, service, polygraph, psychiatric exams, with court approval |
Includes paternity determination, FOC contempt, PPO defense. |
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4th Jackson |
Event fees increase in 1998 |
Additional for mileage |
Premium for prison cases: $175 |
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5th Barry |
Contract with attny. group |
1998 |
Approx. $7440/yr for each of 9 attnys. on list for serious cases; $3720/yr for each of 5 attnys. on less-serious list. Covers misdemeanors, felonies, non-support, paternity, probation viol. |
Ordinary office expenses included; additional for experts, with court approval. |
List rotates with cases carrying points according to offense type, administrator balances points among attorneys to equalize annually. Time actually spent on case does not change points allocated. |
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6th Oakland |
Event |
1997 |
Felony disp. no prelim., less than life: $410 |
Ordinary office expenses included; additional for experts, with court approval. |
No additional fee for motions, pretrials, adjournments. |
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Day of trial, less than life: $250 |
One-half the normal fee for subsequent case of same defendant. |
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Jail visit, less than life (one only): $65 |
Lineups: $75 |
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Day of hearing, less than life: $250 |
No extraordinary fees on non-capital cases. No more than twice the schedule on capital cases. |
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7th Genesee |
Event |
1994 |
AOI, written brief, or sentencing: $100 |
Additional for "extraordinary services," with court approval |
Approx. 90 attorneys on list. |
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Trial on cap. case: $300/day |
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8th Ionia |
Hourly |
1994 |
Inmate cases: $65/hr. |
Additional, with court approval |
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9th Kalamazoo |
Event/ hourly contracts with four groups |
1998 |
Contracts with attorney groups divided by offense penalty (felony over 5 yrs., felony under 5 yrs., probation violation and paternity). |
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Over 5 yrs.: $648 base, plus $505 for life offense, plus $357 for murder. $390 for full day of trial; $195 half day. $299 for district court disposition. |
Additional $39 per case for investigation. Additional "reasonable expenses" for medical and legal records, filing fees, copying of police reports, expert witness exams and testimony fees. Additional for special expenses (deps, special investigators) |
$150 for representing witness claiming Fifth Amendment. |
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Under 5 yrs: $353 base, plus $282 for full day of trial; $141 half day. $190 for district court disposition. |
same |
same |
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|
PV/paternity: $198 each case; $113 each pv. involving only sentencing. |
$22 each case assigned for investigative services. |
4 attorneys in group. |
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10th Saginaw |
Hourly |
Life offenses: $40-50/hr. outside court; $60/hr. in court; $500 per trial day; $250 per half-day. |
Additional for office expenses (postage, copying, etc.); experts with court approval |
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Non-life offenses: $35/hr.; $350 per trial day; $175 per half-day. |
same |
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11th |
Hourly |
Approx. 1988 |
$40/hr. |
Additional for mileage, phone, copying, experts, with court approval |
Approx. 8 attorneys on list. |
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12th |
Hourly |
$45/hr. |
4 attorneys on list. |
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13th |
Event & Hourly |
1998 |
Interview and prep.: $200 |
Additional, upon approval, for records, witness fees, photocopying and photos, filing and service fees |
$30/hr. for interlocutory appeal |
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Plea: $150 |
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FOC show cause/patern./prob. viol.: $200 |
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Capital cases at $50/hr. |
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14th Muskegon |
Contract with 4 attnys. |
1997 |
Total contract of $401,300, divided 4 ways ($193,000, $92,500, $92,500, $23,300) |
Office expenses included. |
Contract covers felonies, contempt. |
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15th Branch |
Contract with 2 attnys. |
1997-98 (2-year) |
In 1997, $50,000/year to each; in 1998, $48,000/year to each. |
Additional for "all necessary expenses" including witness fees, transcripts, mileage, copying, phone. Additional in life offenses, when hours over 15, at hourly rate of $50, with court approval. |
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16th Macomb |
Event |
1993 |
Invest. and prep.: $100 |
Additional for investigator or expert with court approval. |
Hourly for extradition and misc.: $25/hr. |
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Guilty plea circ. ct.: $250 |
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17th Kent |
Contracts with Public Defender and private attnys. |
1998 |
PD Office (15 attnys.) handles 60% of cases, up to 2,500 non-murder and 10 murder, for $1,355,150. |
Additional for expert witnesses, transcripts, with court approval. |
Approx. 40 attorneys holding annual contracts. |
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Private attnys. contract for up to 50 cases each at $510 per case. Lineup: $100 |
Additional for investigation, expert witnesses, extra fees, with court approval. |
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18th Bay |
Public Defender Office |
1998 |
Conflicts cases pay $40-50/hr. |
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19th Benzie Manistee |
Contract with 4 attnys. |
1998 |
Approx. $465 per felony. |
Additional for long dist. phone, mileage, transcripts, other "out of pocket." |
Includes felonies, paternity, FOC contempt, PPOs, juvenile delinquency and abuse or neglect, probation violation. |
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20th Ottawa |
Hourly |
1994 |
Ranges from $50 - $70/hr., depending on attny. |
16 attorneys on list. |
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21st |
Contract with 6 attorneys. |
1997-98 |
$250,000 per year. |
Additional for police reports, med. records, experts, deps., invest., med. tests, transcripts, mileage, filing, witness and service fees, with court approval. |
Contract cap of 1,250 cases annually; $200 per case over cap. Includes mental commitments and local speaking engagements. |
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22nd Washtenaw |
Public Defender Office. (13 attnys.) |
1998 |
PD has budget. |
Reasonable and actual expenses over caps up to $100; no travel time. Includes actual expenses for out-of-county visits. |
45 attorneys on Class I conflicts list. |
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23rd |
Contracts with 3 attnys. |
1997-98 |
$22,408 each |
Additional, with court approval. |
Includes probation violations, paternity and contempt actions, all district court, lineups. |
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Oscoda |
Hourly |
1998 |
$45/hr. |
Additional for reasonable costs. |
4 attorneys on assignment list. |
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24th Sanilac |
Hourly |
Approx. 1991 |
$50/hr. |
Included in hourly rate; additional for experts with court approval. |
Approx. 13 attorneys on list. |
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25th Marquette |
Hourly |
1998 |
$40/hr. |
Additional for mileage and other. |
Premium of $75/hr. for prison cases. |
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26th Alcona Alpena Montmor. Presque Isle
|
Public Defender Office (4 attnys.)
Event (for conflicts cases) |
1998
1998 |
County-budgeted
Arraignment: $55 Pre-exam visit (one only): $50 Prelim. held: $150 Prelim. waived: $100
|
Compensate only for highest monetary event, if more than one on scheduled appearance. |
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Invest. & prep. for plea, capital: $250 Invest. & prep. for plea, non-capital: $150 Invest. & prep. for trial, capital: $500 Invest. & prep. for trial, non-capital: $350 |
Non-frivolous motion for new trial: $125 |
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Written motion & argument: $75 Hearing: $75 |
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Day of trial, capital: $225 Day of trial, non-capital: $150 |
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Plea: $100 Sentencing: $75 |
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27th Newaygo Oceana |
Contract with 2 firms |
1998 |
Firm #1 (50%): $36,360 Firm #2 (50%): $36,360 |
Includes paternity, nonsupport, juvenile abuse, neglect, delinquency, guardianships, mental health cases.
Firms to split unexpended "contingency fund" of $7,364. |
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28th Missaukee |
Hourly |
1998 |
$45/hr. |
Additional |
5 attorneys on list. |
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Wexford |
Contract with 3 attnys. |
1998 |
$31,521 each, divide cases equally |
Additional for long-distance phone, mileage, appeal transcripts. |
May petition for more if trial or hearing exceeds one day. Contract includes probation violations. |
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29th Clinton |
Hourly |
1982 |
$50/hr. |
Additional for phone, copying; experts with court approval.
|
19 attorneys on list. |
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Gratiot |
Hourly |
Approx. 1995 |
$50/hr. |
Additional for phone, copying; experts with court approval |
7 attorneys on list. |
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30th Ingham |
Hourly and event |
1998 |
Life offenses (not habituals): $60/hr. in and out of court, excluding arraignmt. |
Long distance phone excluded; additional with court approval.
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10 yrs – life by event: basic fee: $105 or $130 Prelim.: $110 Prelim. waived: $55 Dist. Ct. pre-trial: $35 Dist. Ct. plea: $110 Circ. Ct. pretrial: $40 Circ. Ct. pretrial & plea: $90 Pros. motion: $40 Trial: $165 full, $85 half-day Sentencing: $60
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Additional with court approval. |
Extraordinary hours with court approval, max. of $35/hr. |
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Under 10 yrs. by event: Basic fee: $75 or $105 Prelim.: $85 Prelim. waived: $40 Dist. Ct. pre-trial: $35 Dist. Ct. plea: $90 Circ. Ct. pretrial: $40 Circ. Ct. pretrial & plea: $80 Pros. motion: $40 Trial: $140 full, $70 half-day Sentencing: $50 |
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31st St. Clair |
Hourly |
1998 |
$69 per hour; reduced to $65 on 6-1-98 |
Additional with court approval. |
36 attorneys on list. |
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32nd Gogebic Ontonagon
|
Contract with 1 attny. |
1998 |
$57,000 annual fee, covers district and circuit court excluding juv. delinquency, child neglect/abuse, appeals |
Additional for witness and process fees. Investigator, deposition, transcript, medical and psych evals. only with court approval. |
Overhead (including copying, postage) included in contract.
Attorney has duty to advise court of non-privileged financial info. of clients relating to indigency claim.
Costs of conflicts counsel offset against contract. |
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33rd Charlevoix |
Contract with 4 attnys.
|
1998-00, (3-year) |
$132,900 for 1998 $137,400 for 1999 $141,900 for 2000 |
Most included, but additional for expert witnesses, polygraph exams, psychiatric exams and investigation, upon approval. Additional for long distance phone. |
Includes misdemeanants facing jail, appeals to circuit court, probation violations, youthful trainee act, paternity, family or contempt facing jail, extradition, remands from higher courts. Consortium provides attny. for motion days, FOC show cause hearings.
Consortium pays conflict attnys. from contract. |
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34th Arenac |
Hourly |
Approx. 1985 |
$45/hr. |
Additional, with court approval.
|
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Ogemaw |
Contract with 5 attnys. |
1997-98 (2-year) |
Monthly payments from $2560 to $6824 |
Includes abuse and neglect, prob. viol., paternity, lineups. Excludes homicide cases. Courts each responsible to pay 31.3% (circuit); 42.3 %(district); 26.4% (probate).
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Roscommon |
Contract with 5 firms |
1998-1999 (2-year) |
3 firms at $2060/month; 2 firms at $1545/month |
Includes paternity, probation violation, contempt. Additional over contract for "services rendered" on murder case. |
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35th Shiawassee |
Hourly |
Approx. 1995 |
$50/hour |
Additional, with court approval.
Phone, postage and mileage excluded. |
6-8 attnys. on list. |
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36th Van Buren |
Hourly by crime type |
1996 |
Mand. Life: $65/hr./trial time Base fee of $1,600 |
Pay at rate of crime originally charged. Trial time added to base fee and preparation time. |
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Life, other mand., over 15 years: $55/hr./trial time Base fee of $550 |
Lineups at $50/hr. where no continuing representation. |
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36th Van Buren continued |
5 to 15 years: $50/hr./trial time Base fee of $375
|
Felonies not leaving district court: $175 flat fee. |
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Under 5 years: $45/hr./trial time Base fee of $325
|
13 attnys. on 1998 list. |
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Prep. time all crimes: $175 |
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37th Calhoun |
Contracts with 12 attnys. |
1996-99 |
6-attorney group does 750 cases/yr. for $17,625/month; 5 attorneys each do 200 cases/yr. for $4,700/month each; 1 attorney does 100 cases/yr. for $2350/month. Annual adjustment for under/overage based on $375 per case. |
Additional for transcripts, witness fees, mileage for witnesses, service of process. Polygraphs, psych. exams for defendants, expert witnesses, upon court approval. |
Attorneys absorb usual costs of maintaining a law office. Contracts each cover felonies, paternity, probation violation, lineups.
|
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In addition to per case payment, trial time paid at $450/day, $225/half-day. |
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38th Monroe |
Hourly |
1991 |
$52/hr. |
Additional for fees, postage, copying.
Expert witnesses, investigators with court approval. |
Approx. 40 attnys. on list |
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39th Lenawee |
Contract with 3 attnys. |
1998 |
$2,060/month for each attny. Additional trial days over 2: $260/day, $130 half-day. |
Additional for witness fees, long distance phone, mileage, transcripts. |
List of 3 attnys. rotates in blind draw.
Contract covers felonies, prob. viol., extradition, contempt, paternity. |
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40th Lapeer |
Event |
1996 |
Base fee in felony: $175 Base fee in misd.: $125 |
Included for ordinary travel, phone; additional upon court approval. |
No additional for motions heard during trial. |
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40th Lapeer continued |
Prelim: $150, plus $75 for each add'l. half day Prelim. waived: $35 AOI: $35; waiver: $20 Contested motions: $100 for first half day; $75 each add'l. half day Lineup: $100 |
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Plea: $35 at arraign.; $50 other than at arraign. Pre-trial (up to 3): $35 |
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Trial on capital case: $500 first day, $150 each add'l. half day Non-cap: $300/$100 Sentencing: $50 |
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Probation arraign. and plea: $35 each; trial at $100 first half-day, $75 each add'l. half day. Paternity hearings: $50/hr.; trial $300 first day, $100 each add'l. half day. |
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41st Dickinson |
Contract with 4 attnys. |
1998 |
$11,759 each for 1998 |
Additional for investigators and experts only, upon application |
No additional fees for substitutions. Judges to equalize work load. |
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Iron |
Contract with 2 attnys.
|
1998 |
$9,455 each for 1998 |
same |
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Menominee |
Contract with 4 attnys. |
1998 |
$38,958 each for 1998 |
same |
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42nd Midland |
Contract with 1 attny. operating "consortium" of attnys. |
1997-00 (3-year) |
Total 3-year contract of $595,000 for circuit court level; $160,000 for district court level. |
In 1997, 66 prob. viol. and 326 felony defendants (total of 392). Approx. $100 per pv and $563 per felony defendant. 8 trials in 1997.
|
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43rd Cass |
Contract with 2 attorneys |
1996-99 3-year |
Monthly fee of $6,042, each |
Additional for experts upon court approval. |
Reserve fund of $50,000 for conflict assignments; split between contract attorneys if unused. |
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44th Livingston
44th Livingston continued |
Contracts with 3 attorneys |
1998 |
1 attorney for 400 cases @ $540/case; 2 attorneys for 50 cases each @ $560/case. |
Additional for experts, testing depositions, transcripts, travel. Office expenses included. |
Contracts include misdemeanors, felonies, prob. viol., response to pros. circuit court appeals.
Additional for cases over contract limit: $180 each for prob. viol., $680 each for others. |
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45th St. Joseph |
Contract with 10 attnys. |
1997-99 (3-year) |
$200,000 for each year; covers misdemeanors, felonies, probation or parole violations, paternity, juveniles.
|
Additional for after hours or weekend lineups or interrogations, remands from appellate courts, with approval of prosecutor and county administrator. Other expenses included in contract. |
Contract attorneys serve on list which rotates weekly.
Attorneys charged with attempting to persuade clients to follow through with payback agreements (compensate county for attny. fees). |
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46th Crawford Kalkaska Otsego |
Contract with one firm |
1997-98 (2-year) |
Monthly fee of $24,167; covers felonies, juveniles, abuse & neglect, probation violation. |
Court must approve subcontractors. Contract includes up to 10 appeals to circuit court. |
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47th Delta |
Hourly |
Approx. 1990 |
$40/hr. |
Additional for expert witnesses, office expenses, with court approval. |
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48th Allegan |
Hourly |
1985 |
Primary attorney: $55/hr. Other attnys: $47.50/hr. |
Additional with court approval. |
Separate contract covers juvenile cases. |
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49th Mecosta |
Contract with 1 attny. (event-based) |
1997 (1-yr) |
Case resolved at dist. ct. level: $175 - $250 Case resolved at cir. ct. level: $300 – $400 Trial first day: $450 Trial subseq. days: $350 Research & brief prep.: $70/hr. |
Additional for witness fees, long distance phone, copying, postage, annual administrative costs, up to 6 jail visits. Invest. and other services with court approval.
|
Hourly ($70) for prob. viol., paternity, contempt, etc.
Switch to hourly ($70) if case takes more than 4 days in trial or if max. is life. |
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Osceola
49th Osceola continued |
Contract with 1 firm, 1 add'l. attny. |
1997 (1-yr) |
$85,000 annual for 180 felony and paternity cases |
Additional for evaluations, blood tests, copying, transportation, investigation, long distance phone, experts, with court approval. |
Switch to additional hourly ($70) if capital case takes more than 10 hours work. |
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50th Chippewa |
Public Defender Office (2 attorneys) |
1997 |
Included in PD budget, additional for contract cases. |
Conflicts cases pay $37.50/hr. for felonies; $50/hr. for prison cases. 6 attorneys on conflicts list, approx. 2 cases per month. PD handles misdemeanors & felonies.
|
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Mackinac |
Hourly |
1998 |
$40/hr. |
Additional |
6 attorneys on assignment list. |
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51st Lake |
Contract with 3 attnys. |
1998 |
$2250/month for each attny. |
Contract includes "office costs." |
Contracts cover misdemeanors, prob. viol., juv. delinquency, neglect and abuse, felonies.
|
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Mason |
Contract with 1 attny., 1 firm. |
1998 |
Misdemeanors: $20,040/yr. Felonies: $27,000/yr. each to attny. & firm. Additional $250/day for each day of trial exceeding two. |
Additional for out-of-pocket, such as long-distance phone (misdemeanors). Additional for experts, testing and diagnosis, with court approval; secretarial, investigative and office expenses excluded (felonies). Additional for transcripts and witness fees (felonies). |
Contractors must reserve $1000 to pay conflicts attorneys. |
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52nd Huron |
Hourly |
1996 or 1997 |
$50/hr. |
Additional for investigation and witnesses, with court approval |
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53rd Cheboygan |
Hourly for capital cases |
1994 |
$70/hr. for capital cases |
Additional for witness fees, others upon petition. |
Judge to determine if fees reasonable. Includes probation violation. 5 attorneys on list. |
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53rd Cheboygan continued |
Event for non-capital cases |
1994 |
AOW or 1st client conference: $70 Prelim. waived: $60 Prelim. held: $100 Dist. Ct. plea: $70 AOI: $70 Line-up: $70 |
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Trial prep.: $100 or $150 Hearing w/testimony: $100 Day of trial: $120 Sentencing: $70 Probation viol.: $100 Cir. Ct. plea: $70 Post-trial motion: $70 |
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54th Tuscola |
Hourly |
Approx. 1991 |
Out-of-court: $55/hr. In-court: $75 |
Additional, with court approval. |
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55th Clare Gladwin |
Event |
Approx. 1997 |
Prep time if tried: $400 Trial: $300/day Assaultive crimes: $400 Non-ass. crimes: $300 CSC: $425 |
Additional, with court approval |
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56th Eaton |
Hourly |
1978 |
All cases: $40/hr. |
Additional |
45 attnys. on 1997 list |
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57th Emmet |
Contract with 4 attnys. |
1996-98 (3-year) |
$155,000 for 1996; $160,000 for 1997; $165,000 for 1997. Covers felonies, misdemeanors, appeals to circuit court, prob. viol., paternity, contempt, lineups, showups, interrogation, extradition. |
Additional for witness fees, polygraphs, psych. exams, investigator, photos, exhibits, phone, with court approval. Additional (without motion) for postage, transportation to some jails. |
Conflicts attny. costs offset against contract. Consortium agrees to provide "sufficient hours of attorneys' work to perform the professional services required by this contract," with time records provided to county. |