(1) District, juvenile, and circuit courts shall generally appoint the public

defender’s office to represent indigent persons, but may, for good cause, appoint private counsel. Unless otherwise provided by ordinance, municipal courts shall appoint private counsel to be paid by the municipality. (2) Private counsel designated by the public defender’s office or by a judicial officer may be compensated at a rate not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) per hour. (A) Payment of private counsel designated by the public defender’s office shall be made by that office and approval by a judicial officer shall be neither requested nor required. Transcripts and other extraordinary expenses and expert witness fees must be approved by the public defend- er’s office prior to being incurred. Counsel shall make known to the public defender’s office those cases which will be extended or complex. (B) Payment for private attorneys appointed by the court must be approved by a judicial officer before being submitted to the public defender’s office for payment. Vouchers (which are available in the public defender’s office) and a supporting invoice detailing the services provided and expenses incurred must be submitted to the court for review. The judicial officer shall approve fees at the rates provided in this section for time necessarily expended and expenses necessarily incurred. Transcripts and other extraordinary expenses and expert witness fees must be approved by the court prior to being incurred. Counsel shall make known to the court and to the public defender’s office those cases which will be extended or complex. (3) If travel is necessary as part of the attorney’s compensation, the court or the public defender’s office must be immediately notified. Travel expenses may be allowed and shall be paid according to the state per diem rates. History: Amended July 22, 1993, effective October 19, 1993; amended June 30, 2000, effective July 1, 2000; amended May 8, 2001, effective Septem- ber 1, 2001; amended December 2, 2002, effec- tive January 6, 2003; amended December 17, 2002, effective January 1, 2003; amended Sep- tember 5, 2006, effective January 1, 2007; Amended August 5, 2025, effective October 6, 2025.