Tuesday, February 14, 2023

LASC App Div seeks indigent defense counsel

APPELLATE DIVISION SEEKS ATTORNEYSTO REPRESENT INDIGENT DEFENDANTS
Presiding Judge of the Appellate Division Patti Jo McKay today announced a recruitment for attorneys interested in serving on the Appellate Division’s Panel of Appointed Attorneys to represent indigent defendants who seek to appeal judgments rendered in misdemeanor cases.

APPOINTED ATTORNEYS: Upon Appellate Division approval, appointed attorneys are compensated by the Professional Appointee Court Expenditure (PACE) program at a rate of $83/hour and are appointed to represent indigent defendants via alphabetical rotation. Occasionally, and in the interest of judicial economy and efficiency, an attorney may be appointed out of order when there is a related pending appeal for the same defendant.

PREREQUISITES: Attorneys interested in an appointment to represent indigent defendants are required to: • Be a member in good standing of the California State Bar; • Possess strong research and writing skills; • Have an understanding of criminal law and procedure; • Be familiar with the appeals process, including the California Rules of Court and the Los Angeles Superior Court Local Rules governing misdemeanor appeals; and • Commit to adhering to the PACE policies and protocols.

APPLICATION MATERIALS: Attorneys who meet the prerequisites should prepare the following: • A cover letter detailing their education, training and experience in handling criminal law cases, including jury and court trials, and appeals; • A current resume with references; and • Two recent writing samples. Please mail the above application materials to: Patti Jo McKay Presiding Judge, Appellate Division Stanley Mosk Courthouse, Room 607 Los Angeles Superior Court 111 N. Hill St. Los Angeles, CA 90020 Attn: Aida (Evelyn) Vallejo