Opinion ID: 1651154
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Whether All Defendants Should be Taxed Court Reporter Fees.

Text: Iowa Rule of Criminal Procedure 2.67(9), pertaining to simple misdemeanors, provides in relevant part: The proceedings upon trial shall not be reported, unless a party provides a reporter at such party's expense. . . . If the defendant is indigent and requests that the proceedings upon trial be reported, the judicial magistrate shall cause them to be reported by a reporter. . . at public expense. Iowa R.Crim. P. 2.67(9). The defendants contend that only two of the defendants, both of whom were indigent, requested court reporter services and that none of the defendants who had funds made such a request. The defendants further contend that the rule does not shift the costs to the defendant at the end of trial as part of the costs of the action but only states that the reporter will be provided at public expense. In these circumstances, the defendants conclude, none of the defendants should have to pay the court reporter fee because the rule only provides that the reporter will be provided at public expense. We agree with the defendants that court reporter fees cannot be taxed against the indigent defendants because rule 2.67(9) clearly provides otherwise. However, contrary to the defendants' contention, the rule only exempts indigent defendants and says nothing about a blanket exemption for all other jointly tried defendants. For this reason, we think the defendants are reading the rule too broadly. The record fails to show that any of the nonindigent defendants objected to having the proceedings reported. They had the advantage of such services, and we consider their silence as a waiver of any objection to having the proceedings reported. Having failed to object, they are responsible for the court reporter fee. We disagree with the district court's holding that Iowa Code section 815.9(3) somehow obligates the indigent defendants in this case for the court reporter fee. That provision provides: If a person is granted an appointed attorney, the person shall be required to reimburse the state for the total cost of legal assistance provided to the person.  Legal assistance  as used in this section shall include not only an appointed attorney, but also transcripts, witness fees, expenses, and any other goods or services required by law to be provided to an indigent person entitled to an appointed attorney. Iowa Code § 815.9(3) (first emphasis added). As the defendants point out, none of the defendants requested or was granted a court-appointed attorney. We agree with the defendants that by its language section 815.9(3) does not apply. The State cites Iowa Code section 815.13 to uphold the district court ruling. That provision provides: The county or city which has the duty to prosecute a criminal action shall pay the costs of depositions taken on behalf of the prosecution, the costs of transcripts requested by the prosecution, and in criminal actions prosecuted by the county or city under county or city ordinance the fees that are payable to the clerk of the district court for services rendered and the court costs taxed in connection with the trial of the action or appeals from the judgment. The county or city shall pay witness fees and mileage in trials of criminal actions prosecuted by the county or city under county or city ordinance. These fees and costs are recoverable by the county or city from the defendant unless the defendant is found not guilty or the action is dismissed, in which case the state shall pay the witness fees and mileage in cases prosecuted under state law. Iowa Code § 815.13. Because the district court did not consider this provision in its ruling, we will not consider it for the first time on appeal. See DeVoss v. State, 648 N.W.2d 56, 63 (Iowa 2002) (holding that court will not consider an issue raised for the first time on appeal). Moreover, we have serious doubts whether the statute even applies.