.“MMAlTOX :torneyGeneral

**I4 J4ckwM.** **Suit4 700**  **usllss. TX.** **751024506 2w742a44** 

**4S24 Alberle** **Avs.. SUIN** **160** ElPIso.lx. 7wos2795 lY5333484

**1001****1*x**. SUIU** **700 lourlon.** **lx. 77001.3111**  **lY22SYS4**

**OS Brosdwry.** **Sultr 312**  .ubtock.**TX. 704Old479**  **ean47.5230**

**l3t4 N.** **Tenth. Suila** **S McAllen.** **lx. 7ScQl-1085**  **512mS24S47**

**200 Maln** **Plus. Suit0** **400 San** **Antonlo. TX.**  **782052797 ~l2l22s4lol** 

**4n Equal** **Owxtunit~l Alllrmrllw**  **AslIon Employrr**  

# TheAttorney General ofTexas

December 31, 1984

Bonorsble Frsnk Blsrclk Cttiinsl District Att~xney Wslker County Courtbourc 1100 University **Avenue** Buntsville, Texas 77340 Opinionlo. JU-287 &A: **Whether** s **state** legislator msy be compensated AA courtsppointed counsel under article 26.055 **of** the Code of Criminsl Procedure under certsin circus stsnees Desr Mr. Blsrek:
Pou hsve requested our opinion ss to whether s state lenislstor msy be compensated ,IIIcourt-&pointed counsel **under** article the Code of Criminsl Procedure. Thst ststute provides, in psrt: Sectlolr 1. A county in which s fseility of the

Texss Deps,rtmt of Corrections is located shall psy from its general fund only the first $250 of the sggrqpte M slloved sndswsrdedby the **court** for sttomeys’ **feee,** investigation, and expert testimny ,under Article 26.05 tousrd defending A prieoner cctitted to thst fscility who is being prosecuted for sn offense comitted in thst county while **in** the custody of the department if the prisoner was originslly ctitted for an offense committed :Lnanother county. Sec. 2. If the fees svsrded for courtappointed counsel in A csse covered by Section 1 of this rwticle exceed $250. the court rhsll certify the amount in excess of $250 to the Comptroller of Public Accounts of the **Stste** of Texsr

. Ihe couptroller ohs11 issue s vsrrsnt to the court-sppointed counsel in the smount certified to the comptroller by the court. G.055 of pertinent

Crsig A. Wsshington. vho is st present s member of the Texas Senste, sccepted qpointment in 1981 se counsel to represent **A** defendant who **VAS** Lndicted for murder of s prison guard while the defendant vss incazctrsted in the Texas Department of Corrections. By order .of July 17. ‘L984. Dlotrict Judge Darrell Rester directed Walkerkaoreble trek Blarak - ?aBe :! W-287)

County And the ntste of Texsr to pay to Senator Wsshiugton “the sumof $50.000.00 Ss sttorney ’s ft~ce **snd** incurred **costs ”**  in **the** criminal ACtiocl. gy supplements1 ordm deted September 19, 1905, Judge Rester directed WSlker County **sad** t’h#sl tete to psy **an** SdditiouSl $10,054.52 to gerutor Ueshington “for reSsoruble sod necessary expenses end coete.” Governor Hark White Approved **s grant**  to WSlker County for $SO,OOO **for the**  purpose of coupenssting Senator WSshington for his legs1 services. BecSuse of this grSnt. the comptroller her refused to pey Senator WAShington SA directed by the court Snd her &vised him to collect these funds frm WslIzr County.
In Attorney Generel Optirion O-1847 (1940). this office VASasked by the county **Attorney of**  WebbCounty to hold that S county judge bed exceeded his Authority in mfusing to perform e ststutory duty on constitutions1 grounds. In response, the Sttorney general declared:

It is not vithin the proper scope of the functions of this departant to serve as S qruei sppallAte tribunal for the correction of vhet sre conceived to be errors comsltted by the courts of this state. The method for reviewing sad correcting such errors does n.ot lie in en eppeS1 to this department for an opinion upon A disputed question, hut in action by the proper revieving tribunel. The two orders of Judge! Bester have directed the state of Texas and Wslker COunty to pay e s~pSCffiC sum of money. These orders are subject, of course, to Sppellste revieu in the courts, And collstersl litigation is possible. As e metter of policy, this office will not exercise its quSsi-judiciS1 !Function to render opinions when mncters are in litigation before the courte or have been definitively resolved through judieiel Action. Accordingly, we respectfully decline to sddress your request for en opinion on this metter.

The policy of this office is not to detetuine the validity of the payment of attorneys fees when this mettar is rho subject of edjudicetion in the cuurts. e

JIM UATTOX Attorney General of Texas

D. 1275.. II
Ronoreble Frank Bleeek - ?eBe3 (JmBy)

T(MGREEN Pirst Assistent Attorney Cenrrel DAVIDR. RICHAltDS Bxecutive Assistent Attorney G:enerel RICKGILPIN Chairmen,Opinion Comittee Prepared by Rick Gilpin Aseistsnt Attorney General APPR0vED

: OPINIONCOMITTEE Rick Gilpin, Chairman Jon Bible Susan Garrison Tony Guillory JimModlinger Jennifer Riggs Nancy Sutton