Opinion ID: 1263060
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: computation of fees

Text: The State of Oklahoma has the obligation to furnish counsel for indigents charged with: felonies; misdemeanors when imprisonment upon conviction is a real possibility; juvenile proceedings which may result in commitment to an institution; mental health matters; [29] contempt proceedings; [30] and guardianship matters. [31] The State also has an obligation to pay appointed lawyers sums which will fairly compensate the lawyer, not at the top rate which a lawyer might charge, but at a rate which is not confiscatory, after considering overhead and expenses. The basis of the amount to be paid for services must not vary with each judge; rather there must be a statewide basis or scale for ascertaining a reasonable hourly rate in order to avoid the enactment of a proscribed special law. [32] Although we invite legislative attention to this problem, in the interim, we must establish guides which will apply uniformly without either violating due process rights or granting constitutional immunities. Bias provided some relief to Oklahoma lawyers; however, it did not address the constitutional infirmities which are squarely presented here. Therefore, in order to correct the defects which render the present statutory scheme unconstitutional, we must build on the foundation which was laid in Bias. We find that the most even handed approach in setting fees is to tie the hourly rate of the counsel appointed for the indigent defendant to the hourly rate of the prosecutor/district attorney and the public defenders. [33] Before the 1988 amendment to 19 O.S. Supp. 1988 § 215.30(B)(2), the salary of a district attorney was based on population in the district. After the amendment, the statute provided that all district attorneys receive the same salary  $56,180.00 per year or $29.26 per hour. We find that the trial court may award the attorney from $14.63 to $29.26 based on the attorney's qualifications. This range is tied to the salary range paid to assistant district attorneys' and the district attorneys. [34] (As a matter of course, when the district attorneys' and public defenders' salaries are raised by the Legislature so, too, would the hourly rate of compensation for defense counsel.) The overhead and the litigation expense of the district attorney are furnished by the state. In order to place the counsel for the defense on an equal footing with counsel for the prosecution, provision must be made for compensation of defense counsel's reasonable overhead and out of pocket expenses. However, before the lawyer can be compensated for overhead, the percentage of reasonable hourly overhead rate directly attributable to the case in controversy, and the amount of out-of-pocket expenses incurred, must be presented to the trial court. [35] These items, in addition to the range of $14.63 to $29.26 an hour for the lawyers' services, must be considered in setting counsel fees. Obviously, the trial court is charged with the duty to ascertain whether the number of billable hours were reasonably necessary to the provision of a defense by competent counsel. (These fees are also subject to final approval by the Chief Justice.) [36] Currently, the statute, 22 O.S.Supp. 1985 § 464, provides for a $750.00 limit on payment of costs. If these costs exceed this amount, they will not be paid unless defense counsel petitions the court for approval of extraordinary expenses before they are incurred. To receive payment for the reasonable overhead, attorney fees, and out of pocket expenses charged to the case, the lawyer must present accurate itemizations of overhead expenditures, time sheets, and invoices to support the number of hours reasonably spent on the defense. Mattingly and Pyron have complied with the guidelines we are establishing. Were this not so, we would remand for further proceedings. We find that they are seasoned lawyers who should be paid an hourly rate of $29.26 per hour; that the average overhead rate and out of pocket expenses presented are reasonable; and that the lawyers spent the time alleged in the pursuit of Lynch's defense. The trial court approved counsel fees in the amount of $17,073.03 for Mattingly and $10,995.00 for Pyron. Our computation results in a smaller fee than that which was allowed by the trial court. Calculation of Fees Mattingly's out-of-pocket expenses $ 173.03 Average hourly overhead $50.88 @169 hours 8,598.72 Hourly rate $29.26 @169 hours 4,944.94 Total compensation $13,716.69 Pyron's average overhead $48.00 @109.55 hours $ 5,258.40 Hourly rate $29.26 @109.55 hours 3,205.43 Total compensation $ 8,463.83 Since Bias, attorneys representing defendants charged with capital crimes [37] have been awarded extraordinary expenses and attorney fees. This extraordinary compensation has been calculated under a formula devised by former Chief Justices of Oklahoma in cooperation with the Administrative Director of the Courts. As a practical matter, the fees which have been awarded have been in the range we have adopted today.