Request a Specific Dallas County Court Appointed Attorney
Every County is different but in 2017/2018 “on average, attorneys appointed by Texas courts are paid $200 for a misdemeanor case and $600 for a non-capital felony”
Here is the Real Deal regarding the process and how to Request a Specific Dallas County Court Appointed Attorney:
The above statement of fact is scary therefore it is reasonable that an Accused should should have a minimal amount of CHOICE in their appointed attorney.
Dallas County has a Public Defender’s Office (Dallas County Public Defender’s Office) that has quite extensive areas of expertise some being the Felony Section; Misdemeanor Section; Mental Health Section; Exoneration Unit Section; Juvenile Section; Child Protective Services Section and an Investigative Support Unit Section.
Dallas County also utilizes Court Appointed Attorney’s taken off a “rotating wheel” and which comply with the local Indigent Defense Plan.
In sum, depending on conflict, availability and volume the Dallas County Courts will typically assign Counsel from either the Dallas County Public Defender’s Officer or Appoint Private Counsel of the “rotating wheel”.
But, the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure 26.04 allows a Judge to bypass the next attorney on that county’s appointment “list” for “good cause” thus it is reasonable to assume that especially early on an Indigent Defendant has the right to “request” a particular Attorney that is already on the “rotating wheel”. This “request” is subject to the Judges discretion based on “good cause” being whatever that Judge considers “good cause”.
Suggestion: Reach out to some of the court appointed attorneys (aka…shop) then simply advise the Court that you did your due diligence and are asking for a specific attorney of your choosing under “good cause”. At worst the Court denies and at best the Court grants the request.
Again, at worst the Court simply says no and appoints the next available attorney or appoints the Dallas County Public Defenders Office as it sees fit.
Here is the list of attorney’s accepting court appointments in Dallas County, TX - Coming Soon.