Opinion ID: 1859817
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Payment of Reasonable Attorney's Fees

Text: For her third point on appeal, Appellant argues that the chancellor erred in denying the motion for attorney's fees for work performed on this appeal. Appellant's counsel in the present matter was appointed by the chancellor pursuant to Ark.Code Ann. § 9-27-316 (Repl.1998), which requires appointment of counsel for indigent parents in termination cases. The order appointing counsel to represent Appellant specifically stated that the appointment was for all stages of the proceedings, through appeal. Counsel filed a motion for attorney's fees with the chancery court on June 28, 1999. The chancellor refused to pay Appellant for any work performed after the notice of appeal was filed, because she found that her court no longer had jurisdiction over the case. Appellant argues that requiring counsel to represent an indigent parent pro bono in a termination case amounts to an unconstitutional taking. We agree. This court has held that the services of an attorney are a specie of property subject to Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment protection. Arnold v. Kemp, 306 Ark. 294, 813 S.W.2d 770 (1991). In Arnold , this court held that the appointment of counsel in criminal cases results in a taking of the appointed counsel's property for which he must be justly compensated. Id. We recognize that termination cases are civil in nature. The principles that require payment of attorney's fees for representing an indigent criminal defendant, however, are applicable to termination cases as well. See Phillips v. Arkansas Dep't. of Human Servs., 64 Ark.App. 201, 980 S.W.2d 276 (1998). It would, therefore, be unconstitutional for the chancellor to appoint counsel to represent Appellant, and then deny that counsel reasonable payment for services rendered. Counsel for Appellant previously filed a motion with this court to withdraw as counsel on appeal, or in the alternative for attorney's fees. We denied her motion to withdraw as counsel. We reserved ruling on the motion for attorney's fees. In accordance with the foregoing opinion, we now request counsel for Appellant to submit an affidavit to this court setting forth the following information: (1) the date of appointment; (2) the court which appointed counsel; (3) the number of hours expended by counsel in research, court appearances, and preparation of pleadings and briefs; (4) counsel's customary rate of compensation in similar cases; (5) the customary rate of compensation in similar cases of attorney's in the community; (6) expenses incurred by counsel which are directly attributable to the case; (7) the experience of counsel in the representation of indigent parents; and (8) the relative complexity of the case. This affidavit shall be filed no later than thirty days after the issuance of the mandate. Affirmed. GLAZE, J., dissents.