 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Suffolk 18B.org
| Introduction |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
|
| The Family Law Committee of the Suffolk County Psychological Association (SCPA) and Touro Law Center are providing consultations for attorneys, whose practice is in the area of family law, including matrimonial issues. Click here to find out more... |
Welcome to the Website of the Suffolk County Assigned Counsel Defender
Plan.
Both constitutional and statutory law require New York to provide counsel to
certain individuals financially unable to obtain counsel. In Suffolk County,
“mandated representation” is provided under the Suffolk County Assigned
Counsel Defender Plan, which was devised by the Suffolk County Bar
Association and the Suffolk County Criminal Bar Association pursuant to
County Law Article 18-B.
County Law Article 18-B authorizes Suffolk County to choose one or a
combination of several options for providing representation to eligible clients,
including public defender office; a private legal aid bureau or society or, in
Family Court matters, any corporation or voluntary association or organization
permitted to practice law under Judiciary Law § 495(7); or the assignment of
private practitioners pursuant to an assigned counsel plan. County Law § 722.
The objective of the Suffolk County Assigned Counsel Defender Plan is to
ensure high quality legal services for every individual represented under the
plan. The county is entitled to consider costs as a relevant factor in devising
its representation plan, but it cannot ignore its constitutional, statutory and
moral duty to provide quality counsel to those who cannot afford
representation.
The Plan's intent is to provide representation to indigent defendants and
provide remuneration to counsel. The fee award provision is not intended to
completely eliminate the pro bono aspect of a lawyer's role in representing
indigent defendants, but to compensate the attorneys who accept such
assignments at reasonable hourly rates.
This website provides information regarding the 18B program, including our
policies,
requirements, samples and procedures for compensation, as well as links to
other helpful websites.
If you are interested in becoming a member of our 18B program, please
review our
qualifications.
If you qualify and would like to be considered for participation in the panel,
download the application and return it to our office.
Thank you to all of our participating panelists.
David H. Besso
Administrator
| Supreme Court in Suffolk County has opened a second Integrated Domestic Violence Court (IDV) in Riverhead in order to better serve the needs of litigants living on the East End of Long Island . If you would like to participate on this panel, please contact our office immediately. |
| COMPENSATION RATE GUIDELINES FOR COURT-APPOINTED NON-LAWYER PROFESSIONALS Click here to read about the guidelines. |
| PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE ASSIGNED COUNSEL DEFENDER PLAN OF SUFFOLK COUNTY DOES NOT PROVIDE FOR THE ASSIGNMENT, NOR COMPENSATE COUNSEL FOR PAROLE HEARINGS. |
| **********ALERT********** On March 31, 2010, the Supreme court issued a momentous Sixth Amendment right to counsel decision in Padilla v. Kentucky . The Court held, in part that …. “the Sixth Amendment requires defense counsel to provide affirmative, competent advise to a noncitizen defendant regarding the immigration consequences of a guilty plea, and, absent such advice, a noncitizen may raise a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel.” For more information, click here. |
| ANNOUNCEMENTS |
| ORDERS FOR EXPERTS AND APPROVING FEE OVER STATUTORY CAP Please be advised that Orders for Expert services and ones approving fees over statutory cap accompanying your vouchers MUST be the original signed by the judge and/or a certified copy. Same must also include the exact name and address of the expert being used. Any voucher accompanied by a “Generic” Order and/or copy will be returned. |