1.    Lawyers provided to represent indigent persons must be compensated at a reasonable rate to be determined by the commission on legal counsel for indigents. Expenses necessary for the adequate defense of an indigent person prosecuted in district court, other than for a violation of a home rule county‘s ordinance, when approved by the commission, must be paid by the state. Expenses necessary for the adequate defense of an indigent person prosecuted for violation of a home rule county’s ordinance must be paid by the home rule county. Expenses necessary for the adequate defense of an indigent person prosecuted in municipal court, when approved by the judge, must be paid by the city in which the alleged offense took place. The city shall also pay the expenses in any matter transferred to district court pursuant to section 40-18-06.2 or 40-18-15.1, in any appeal taken to district court from a judgment of conviction in municipal court pursuant to section 40-18-19, and in an appeal or postconviction matter seeking relief from a conviction resulting from violation of a municipal ordinance. A defendant requesting representation by counsel at public expense, or for whom counsel provided at public expense without a request is considered appropriate by the court, shall submit an application for indigent defense services. For an application for indigent defense services in the district court, a nonrefundable application fee of thirty-five dollars must be paid at the time the application is submitted. The district court may extend the time for payment of the fee or may waive or reduce the fee if the court determines the defendant is financially unable to pay all or part of the fee. If the application fee is not paid before disposition of the case, the fee amount must be added to the amount to be reimbursed under this section. Application fees collected under this subsection must be forwarded for deposit in the indigent defense administration fund established under subsection 4.

Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

2.    A defendant for whom counsel is provided at public expense, subject to this subsection, shall reimburse the state, home rule county, or city such sums as the state, home rule county, or city expends on the defendant’s behalf.

a.    At the time counsel is provided for a defendant, the court shall advise the defendant of the defendant’s potential obligation to reimburse the appropriate governmental entity the amounts expended on behalf of the defendant.

b.    Unless it finds that there is no likelihood that the defendant is or will be able to pay attorney’s fees and expenses, the court, in its judgment of conviction, and in any order or amended judgment entered following a revocation or other postjudgment proceeding, shall order the defendant to reimburse the presumed amount of indigent defense costs and expenses, as determined by the commission, and shall notify the defendant of the right to a hearing on the reimbursement amount. If the defendant or prosecutor requests a hearing within thirty days of receiving notice under this subdivision, the court shall schedule a hearing at which the actual amount of attorney’s fees and expenses must be shown. In determining the amount of reimbursement and method of payment, the court shall consider the financial resources of the defendant and the nature of the burden that reimbursement of costs and expenses will impose.

c.    A defendant who is required to reimburse indigent defense costs and expenses and who is not willfully in default in that reimbursement may at any time petition the court to waive reimbursement of all or any portion of the attorney’s fees and expenses. If the court is satisfied that reimbursement of the amount due will impose undue hardship on the defendant or the defendant’s immediate family, the court may waive reimbursement of all or any portion of the amount due or modify the method of payment.

3.    The attorney general, the state’s attorney of the home rule county, or the prosecuting attorney of the city in which the alleged offense took place, if reimbursement has not been received, shall seek civil recovery of any amounts expended on the defendant’s behalf anytime the attorney general, state’s attorney, or city attorney determines the person for whom counsel was appointed may have funds to repay the state, home rule county, or city within six years of the date such amount was paid on that person’s behalf. A person against whom civil recovery is sought under this subsection is entitled to all exemptions accorded to other judgment debtors. The attorney general, state’s attorney, or prosecuting attorney may contract with a private sector collection agency for assistance in seeking recovery of such funds. Before referring the matter to a collection agency, the state’s attorney shall notify the person who is the subject of the collection action.

4.    The indigent defense administration fund is a special fund in the state treasury. The state treasurer shall deposit in the fund all application fees collected under subsection 1. All moneys in the indigent defense administration fund are appropriated on a continuing basis to the commission on legal counsel for indigents to be used in the administration of the indigent defense system.