Opinion ID: 2102285
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Fee Application for Representation of Contemner in the Preparation of a Petition for Writ of Certiorari.

Text: As has been noted, although plaintiff prepared the petition for writ of certiorari to this court in the Skinner v. Ruigh matter, all subsequent representation of Skinner in that matter was handled by the appellate defender's staff. Plaintiff's claim for fees in the certiorari action is therefore limited to the work expended in preparing and filing the petition and the necessary out-of-pocket expenses incident thereto. In passing on this claim, the defendant judge did not doubt plaintiff's entitlement to fees for these services under the holding of McNabb v. Osmundson, 315 N.W.2d 9 (Iowa 1982), but believed that an order for payment of such fees could only be made under direction of this court. Accordingly, the defendant judge awarded plaintiff no fees or expenses for the work undertaken on the petition for writ of certiorari. The mechanics of appointing and compensating counsel for indigent persons who face imprisonment for contempt of court was established in our McNabb decision. The district court is to make such appointments based on a finding of indigency and a predictive evaluation that there is a likelihood of imprisonment. Id. at 14. The district court is to fix and order the compensation for such court-appointed counsel using the guidelines of Iowa Code section 815.7. Id. at 17. In McNabb, we appointed, albeit retroactively, the counsel who represented the contemner in the certiorari action. Such procedure was rendered necessary in that case due to its seminal nature in the creation of a right to counsel for indigent contemners who face imprisonment. We deem it more appropriate as a general rule, however, that all appointments of counsel, even for proceedings in this court, be made by the district court. This is consistent with the provisions of Iowa Rule of Criminal Procedure 26.1(1) which applies to criminal appeals. If the district court fails or refuses to appoint counsel when requested to do so, application for appointment of counsel may then be made to this court. It would be unduly harsh to deny plaintiff reasonable compensation for time and expense incurred in preparing the petition for certiorari in the present case simply because he applied to the wrong court for appointment. We therefore sustain the writ only for purposes of directing the district court to make a determination of such fees and expenses following issuance of procedendo in this action.