Opinion ID: 412737
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Request for Private Payment.

Text: 20 It is customary in criminal appointments that counsel receive their legal fees solely from the court. In this case, however, the petitioner's appointed defense counsel requested and received a private payment of $500 from petitioner's family for legal fees in connection with defending Harris. The petitioner contends that the request and payment destroyed the attorney-client relationship of trust and confidence which is essential to effective representation. The defense counsel's conduct in requesting private payment was improper. See generally, American Bar Association, Code of Professional Responsibility, DR 2-106; American Bar Association, Standards for the Defense Function, Standard 3.3 (2d ed. 1980). The request for payment does not, however, independently establish ineffective assistance of counsel. The payment does call into question whether counsel were diligent and devoted advocates of the petitioner's case, or whether they were primarily interested in collecting a fee. Cf. Friedman v. United States, 588 F.2d 1010, 1016 (5th Cir.1979). 21