Opinion ID: 2612481
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 27

Heading: WHETHER W.S. 7-6-106(d) (JUNE 1987 REPL.), UNDER WHICH LOWRY, VIGIL AND McIVER WERE ORDERED TO REIMBURSE THE STATE FOR PUBLIC DEFENDER ATTORNEY'S FEES, IS CONSTITUTIONAL.

Text: In Lowry, when the county court judge appointed the public defender to represent Ms. Lowry, the judge found that she was presently unable to provide for full payment of attorney's fees and other expenses of representation, but that she could afford to pay a certain amount to defray partial costs of representation. This finding was based upon the judge's consideration of Ms. Lowry's affidavit seeking court-appointed counsel in which she provided detailed information about her financial situation and present employment. Specifically, in her affidavit she stated she could afford to make monthly payments towards her court-appointed counsel in the sum of $50 per month. In the judge's order, and based on his finding that Ms. Lowry could afford to pay some amount to defray partial costs of defense counsel, he ordered her to pay $50 per month. Later, when the judge, over the prosecutor's objection, deferred prosecution and placed Ms. Lowry on probation under new 301, he ordered Ms. Lowry to reimburse the state and county $200 for the services of her court-appointed counsel. In Vigil, when the county court judge appointed the public defender to represent Mr. Vigil, his appointment was based upon Mr. Vigil's affidavit for court-appointed counsel in which he provided detailed information about his financial situation and employment history. Later, in the presentence investigation report Mr. Vigil provided further detailed information about his financial situation and his employment history. When the district court judge sentenced Mr. Vigil, he ordered him to pay the state public defender for all expenses and services according to the public defender's standard fee schedule. The judge ordered this to be paid within Mr. Vigil's five-year probationary period according to a court-approved payment plan. In McIver, the county court appointed a public defender based upon Mr. McIver's affidavit in which he gave detailed information about his financial situation, employment history, educational background, and family background. A presentence investigation report provided further detailed information about his financial situation, employment history, educational background, and family background. When the district court judge sentenced Mr. McIver, he ordered him to repay the state public defender for all expenses and services pursuant to that office's standard fee schedule. The judge ordered this to be paid within Mr. McIver's three year probationary period according to a court-approved payment plan. Under W.S. 7-6-106(d) (June 1987 Repl.) the courts have the authority to order a defendant to repay the state for the cost of defense services. [22] Defendants Lowry, Vigil and McIver raise for the first time on appeal the question of the constitutionality of this statute. They do not argue plain error. Since we find no jurisdictional claim and no fundamental right claim, we decline to consider this issue. Hopkinson, 664 P.2d at 50.