Opinion ID: 1119132
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Porter's complaint of excessive case load

Text: On November 1, 1995, Porter, a contract attorney, wrote to Respondent detailing her existing case load and expressing her opinion that she could not ethically accept further appointments until her case load decreased. Without holding a hearing, Respondent rejected Porter's request and continued to assign new cases to her. This court established presumptive case load ceilings for criminal defense counsel in State v. Joe U. Smith, 140 Ariz. 355, 681 P.2d 1374 (1984). In that case, we pointed out the ethical obligation of defense counsel to manage their professional responsibilities so as to ensure that they are able to provide adequate representation to every client. Although the guidelines expressed in Joe U. Smith are an appropriate standard, Porter does not ask that we determine whether her case load exceeds Joe U. Smith limits. Nor is the record presented to us adequate to that task. It is sufficient for the present to say that Porter has raised colorable questions concerning her ability to provide adequate representation, and her request for a hiatus in appointments should not have been summarily denied.