Iowa Admin. Code r. 493-1.3

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 11, December 11, 2024

Rule 493-1.3 - Overall organization and method of operations

(1)State public defender system. The state public defender system is administered by the state public defender. The system consists of three divisions: an administrative division, a local public defender division, and an appellate division.

(2)Types of cases. Based on statutes and appropriate case law, the state public defender system provides representation for persons found to be indigent in the following types of cases:

a. Felonies;

b. Misdemeanors, if an accused faces the possibility of imprisonment under the applicable criminal statute or ordinance;

c. Juvenile matters, including delinquency, termination of parental rights, child in need of assistance (CINA), judicial bypass proceedings, filing by an indigent party of an adoption petition under Iowa Code section 600.3 to adopt a child who was the subject of a termination of parental rights proceeding under Iowa Code chapter 232, and juvenile commitments;

d. Probation and parole revocation cases;

e. Civil commitment proceedings under Iowa Code chapter 229A; and

f. Other matters authorized by law.

(3)State public defender. The state public defender is appointed by the governor, subject to confirmation by the senate. The state public defender is the chief administrative officer of the state public defender system and in that capacity coordinates the legal representation of indigent clients in criminal, juvenile and related cases in Iowa. The duties of the state public defender include, but are not limited to:

a. Supervising the operations of the local public defender offices;

b. Acting as chief legal officer of the state public defender system;

c. Preparing and submitting the annual budget, personnel and employment policies, and preparing an annual report of the activities of the office;

d. Determining locations for establishing future local public defender offices;

e. Coordinating the provision of legal representation of all indigents under arrest or charged with a crime, on appeal in criminal cases, in a proceeding to obtain postconviction relief when ordered to do so by the court, against whom a contempt action is pending, in proceedings under Iowa Code chapter 229A, in juvenile cases under Iowa Code chapters 232 and 600A, in probation or parole violations under Iowa Code chapter 908, in the filing by an indigent party of an adoption petition under Iowa Code section 600.3 to adopt a child who was the subject of a termination of parental rights proceeding under Iowa Code chapter 232, or in any other matters authorized by law;

f. Filing with the clerk of court in each county served by a public defender a designation of which local public defender office shall receive notice of appointment of cases;

g. Contracting with licensed attorneys in the state to provide legal services to indigent persons where there is no local public defender available to provide such services; and

h. Reviewing claims for indigent defense services and costs and participating in hearings regarding claims.

(4)Administrative division. The administrative division carries out all the duties of the state public defender including, but not limited to: budget preparation, processing claims for payment of public defender-related costs and expenses, coordinating hiring and disciplinary matters, maintaining statistics regarding case management and handling of cases, and all other administrative matters.

(5)Local public defender division. The local public defender division provides legal representation at the trial level to qualified persons charged with adult crimes or in juvenile matters in counties where local public defender services are provided. The division also provides representation to qualified persons in juvenile appeals and in civil commitment proceedings under Iowa Code chapter 229A at the trial and appellate levels and in any other matters authorized by law.

The local public defender division consists of independent local offices and branch offices. Each independent local office is under the direct supervision of a local public defender. A local public defender may supervise a branch office. If so, the branch office may be considered part of the local office.

(6)Appellate division. The appellate division is administered by the state appellate defender who reports directly to the state public defender. The appellate division provides legal representation to indigent clients in posttrial matters in the appellate courts of the state of Iowa.

(7)Civil commitment unit. Rescinded IAB 12/28/11, effective 2/1/12.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 493-1.3

Amended by IAB June 25, 2014/Volume XXXVI, Number 26, effective 7/30/2014.

Amended by IAB February 03, 2016/Volume XXXVIII, Number 16, effective 3/9/2016

Amended by IAB January 11, 2023/Volume XLV, Number 14, effective 2/15/2023