Bill > HB847

This bill expands the requirements for court-appointed legal representation in Virginia for indigent defendants facing serious felony charges. Currently, courts are required to appoint two attorneys only in cases involving Class 1 felonies, but this bill extends that requirement to any felony that carries a mandatory minimum life sentence. Specifically, in jurisdictions with a public defender's office, the court will first appoint the public defender and then an additional qualified attorney as co-counsel. In jurisdictions without a public defender, the court will appoint two attorneys from the Indigent Defense Commission's list. The bill also updates compensation provisions for these court-appointed attorneys, allowing them to submit monthly statements for costs and fees, with special provisions for cases involving Class 1 felonies or life-sentence-eligible felonies. The goal appears to be ensuring that defendants facing extremely serious criminal charges have robust legal representation, particularly those who cannot afford to hire their own attorneys. The bill was recommended by the Virginia Criminal Justice Conference and modifies existing sections of the Virginia Code related to criminal defense and court-appointed counsel.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?251+sum+HB847