Opinion ID: 2088887
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Count I Attorney Fees for a Juvenile

Text: The facts pertinent to the first charge were that a juvenile was charged with delinquency on an allegation of sexual battery in the Hendricks Circuit Court, Juvenile Docket. In addition, while that charge was pending, the juvenile was separately charged with criminal conversion in the Hendricks Circuit Court, Criminal Docket. Phillip L. Gundlach was appointed to represent the juvenile in the juvenile proceeding. A salaried public defender was appointed to represent the juvenile in the criminal proceeding. Gundlach's representation in the juvenile proceeding was terminated after four weeks when Respondent dismissed that case. Gundlach submitted a claim to the Hendricks Circuit Court for 43.2 hours of service and $22.80 in expenses. The customary hourly rate for such services was $35, which would have made the total claim $1534.80. Respondent's order granted the fees, but provided that the County pay Gundlach $322.80 and that the juvenile and his parents pay the balance of $1,212.00 directly to Gundlach. The juvenile was found guilty in the criminal case, and an order was entered requiring the juvenile to pay pauper attorney fees directly to the salaried public defender. On December 2, 1988, John Pierce, a partner in the firm which employed Gundlach as an associate, wrote a letter to Respondent Boles questioning the method in which attorney fees were awarded to Gundlach. The Respondent reacted to the letter by vacating the award of attorney fees including those he had already approved for payment by the County. The County Auditor was instructed to return all claims for payment. Pierce's letter correctly pointed out that Respondent's attorney fee orders in this and other cases were in direct violation of I.C. XX-X-X-XX, which at the time stated: (a) The cost of any services ordered by the juvenile court for any child, or the child's parent, guardian, or custodian, and the cost of returning a child under I.C. 31-6-10 shall be paid by the county. The county council shall provide sufficient funds to meet the court's requirements. (b) The parent or guardian of the estate of a child adjudicated a delinquent child or a child in need of services is financially responsible for any services ordered by the court unless: (1) the parent or guardian is unable to pay for them; (2) payment would force an unreasonable hardship on the family; or (3) justice would not be served by ordering payment. Clearly, it is the County's responsibility to first pay the attorney fees. If the juvenile is found to be delinquent, the judge may then, after fair hearing regarding finances of the parents, require repayment to the County. Because of Respondent's dismissal of the charges, the juvenile could not be found delinquent, and the parents cannot be required to repay the County. After Respondent vacated the order which had granted Gundlach's attorney fees, the situation rapidly deteriorated. Attorney Pierce requested the Prosecutor of Hendricks County to make a determination as to whether Boles' orders for attorney fees should be the subject of a grand jury investigation. In addition, Kevin Hinkle, who is Mr. Pierce's law partner and President of the Hendricks County Council, referred to the Hendricks County Attorney the issue of Respondent allowing a salaried public defender to also receive additional payment directly from defendants or defendants' parents. The juvenile's father then filed a complaint against Respondent Boles with the Judicial Qualifications Commission and soon thereafter the father settled the claim with his son's public defender in the criminal case. Respondent proceeded, without hearing, to enter an order that found the juvenile's parents were capable of paying the attorney fees of Gundlach, and that under no circumstances would the taxpayers of Hendricks County be required to pay the legal costs on the extraordinary bill submitted by Mr. Gundlach. Further, Respondent ordered Gundlach to inform him whether he approved, adopted, consented to, or ratified the actions of Pierce and Hinkle, and the complaint against him filed with the Qualifications Commission. Believing Respondent Boles lacked the jurisdiction to place such a requirement on him, Gundlach sought an Emergency Writ of Prohibition from this Court, which was granted. State ex rel. Gundlach v. The Hendricks Circuit Court, (Cause No. 32S00-8904-OR-258). Later a Permanent Writ of Prohibition was issued by this Court prohibiting the enforcement of Respondent's order. While this Court recognizes a trial judge's discretion to set pauper attorney fees, it was clear to this Court that Respondent was acting beyond his jurisdiction to seek an answer as to whether Gundlach ratified the actions of Pierce and Hinkle. Finally, Respondent's order denying Gundlach's Motion to Correct Error stated that he would not allow Gundlach to cheat the taxpayers and steal from the public. Gundlach's appeal to the Court of Appeals resulted in a reversal. The Court of Appeals found that Respondent Boles clearly erred when he ruled that Hendricks County would not be required to pay Gundlach's fee. Woolf v. State (1989), Ind. App., 545 N.E.2d 590. The majority remanded for a determination of a reasonable attorney's fee. Judge Baker dissented in part, indicating that the initial order for $1,534.80 inherently carried with it the finding that the attorney fees were reasonable. He therefore would have ordered that amount paid without remanding for a further hearing.