Bill > HB1005

This bill increases the compensation for court-appointed attorneys representing indigent (low-income) defendants in Mississippi. Specifically, the legislation raises the maximum compensation for attorneys in different types of legal proceedings: for representation in circuit court, the compensation increases from $1,000 to $3,000; for cases not originating in a court of record, the maximum increases from $200 to $1,500; in capital cases where two attorneys are appointed, the compensation increases from $2,000 to $4,000; and for appeals to the state supreme court, the compensation increases from $1,000 to $3,000. The bill also brings forward existing language about public defender compensation, which stipulates that public defenders' salaries should be comparable to prosecutors' salaries in their respective jurisdictions. Additionally, the bill includes provisions about public defenders' ability to engage in private legal practice, with full-time public defenders prohibited from private practice and part-time public defenders allowed to practice law as long as it does not involve criminal prosecution. The changes will take effect on July 1, 2025, providing increased financial support for attorneys representing defendants who cannot afford legal representation.

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https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/HB/HB1005.xml