Analysis of Harris Countys Pretrial and Indigent Defense Systems

Introduction......................................................................................................................... 2
Description of the Pretrial System ..................................................................................... 2
Prosecutorial Involvement at Article 15.17 Hearings .................................................... 2
Bail Amounts Set at Article 15.17 Hearings .................................................................. 3
Personal Recognizance Bonds ......................................................................................... 4
Outcomes for Defendants Not Making Bail.................................................................... 5
Counsel Appointment Systems .......................................................................................... 6
Quality of Representation .................................................................................................. 8
Caseload Standards ......................................................................................................... 8
Resources ......................................................................................................................... 9
Use of Investigators...................................................................................................... 9
Mental Health Resources ........................................................................................... 10
Conclusion ......................................................................................................................... 12
APPENDIX A Letter from Senator Rodney Ellis to the Texas Indigent Defense
Commission .. 14
APPENDIX B Harris County Indigent Defense Statistics .. 17
APPENDIX C District and County Court Bail Schedules ... 18
APPENDIX D Harris County Appointed Attorney Survey ... 22
APPENDIX E1 Term Assignment Appointments in Felony Cases .. 56
APPENDIX E2 Assigned Counsel Appointments in Felony Cases ... 57
APPENDIX E3 Term Assignment Appointments in Misdemeanor Cases .. 61
APPENDIX E4 Public Defender Cases 66
APPENDIX E5 Total Cases Paid for All Private Attorneys ..... 68

Introduction
In September 2015, the Texas Indigent Defense Commission (Commission) began
a full policy monitoring review of Harris Countys indigent defense systems. In addition
to the areas covered by the review, Senator Rodney Ellis asked the Commission to
further assess aspects of Harris Countys indigent defense systems, including:
1) Ways to improve the pretrial system, including the assignment of counsel at the
Article 15.17 hearing and the increased use of personal bonds;
2) The appointment of counsel as it relates to the expansion of the public defenders
office and the utilization of a managed assigned counsel program; and
3) The effects that attorney caseload standards and funding levels, including
resources for investigation and experts, have on the quality of representation.1
The monitor used data and observations from the September 2015 review of Harris
Countys indigent defense practices in making the assessment that follows. 2

Description of the Pretrial System

Prosecutorial Involvement at Article 15.17 Hearings
Under Harris Countys direct filing system, the prosecutor must file a case with
the district clerks office before police book a defendant into the Harris County Jail. After
booking, the sheriffs office brings defendants before a magistrate for the Article 15.17
hearing. Some arrestees make a pre-set bond prior to the hearing. At the Article 15.17
hearing, magistrates must determine if probable cause exists to continue to detain the
defendant and must set bail. Harris County has implemented a bail schedule for both
misdemeanor and felony offenses.3 The schedules take into account offense level, offense
type, immigration issues, and prior convictions.
Prosecutors are present at the hearing and argue for departures from the bail
schedule and for probable cause to detain the defendant. Based on a sample of FY2014
(October 2013-September 2014) cases obtained in the monitors review, prosecutors
sought higher bail amounts than listed on the bail schedule in 11% of misdemeanor cases
and 14% of felony cases. The motions for higher bail occurred primarily in certain types
of offenses and cases with immigration implications. For example, half of the motions
for higher bail in misdemeanor cases occurred in assault family violence offenses. Table
1 shows the frequency of prosecutorial motions for higher bail.4
1

APPENDIX A, Letter from Sept. 7, 2015.

Throughout this report, Commission staff are referred to as the monitor.

See APPENDIX C, District and County Court Bail Schedules. Roberson v. Richardson mandated Harris
County maintain an initial bail schedule. See Agreed Final Judgment dated Nov. 25, 1987, at Pg. 4,
Roberson v. Richardson, No. H-84-2974 (S.D.Tex. 1987).
2
3

In spite of the fact that prosecutors often argued for bonds exceeding the bail schedule, magistrates
periodically found that there was no probable cause to detain defendants. Magistrates found that there
was no probable cause to detain defendants in 14 sample cases (5% of the misdemeanor sample) and in 3
4

Table 1: Motions for Higher Bail at the Article 15.17 Hearing

Offense Level
Class B Misd.
Class A Misd.
State Jail
F3
F2
F1

Cases
Reviewed

Higher Bail Sought by

Prosecutor5

193
94
99
66
48
34

5.2%
23.4%
4.0%
21.2%
20.8%
20.6%

While prosecutors are present and regularly argue for higher bail, defense
attorneys are not present at Article 15.17 hearings to represent defendants interests.
Currently, several counties in Texas provide defense counsel in some cases for arrestees
at the Article 15.17 hearing.6
Bail Amounts Set at Article 15.17 Hearings
Upon arrest, the reviewing prosecutor sets an initial bail amount according to the
Harris County bail schedule. At the Article 15.17 hearing, the magistrate reviews the
initial bail amount. For misdemeanors, the Harris County Criminal Courts at Law
require that the criminal law hearing officer refer to the bail schedule in setting the
initial bail amount.7 The court, hearing officer, or any party may make a motion to
depart from the schedule.8
The records reviewed indicate that magistrates rarely depart downward from the
bail schedule. Based on a sample of 406 combined misdemeanor and felony cases (in
which the bond amount could be determined), the magistrate set bail below the
minimum for the offense level in only 1 of the 406 cases. The 2014 Pretrial Services
Annual Report provided a similar picture, noting that for Class A and B misdemeanors,

felony sample cases (1% of the felony sample). Prosecutors later re-filed these cases in 5 of the sample
misdemeanor cases in one of the sample felony cases.
5

This includes instances when the prosecutor seeks no bond.

Bexar, Cameron, and El Paso Counties have processes in place to provide defense counsel at the Article
15.17 hearing. Bexar County currently provides counsel at Article 15.17 hearings only for arrestees
with mental illness.
6

HARRIS CNTY. (TEX.) CRIM. CTS. AT LAW RULES OF CT. LOC. R. 4.2.3.1.
4.2.3.1 The bail schedule maintained by the county criminal court at law judges for all misdemeanor
offenses occurring within the courts jurisdiction shall be referred to by the criminal law hearing
officer. The initial bail amount may be changed on motion of the court, the hearing officer, or any
party. . . .

Id. When such motions are made by the court, the motions are typically informal and implied by the
courts action.
8

2 of 52,506 defendants had bail set below $500.9 In felony cases, 11 of 32,268 defendants
had bail set below $2,000.10
Table 2 compares bail amounts from the monitors sample with the schedules
minimum offense level amount. The minimum bail amounts by offense level range from
$500 for Class B misdemeanor offenses to $20,000 for first degree felony offenses. The
actual amounts set by magistrates were typically higher than the minimum offense
amounts. For example, from the monitors sample of cases, the median Class B
misdemeanor bond was 5 times higher than the offense minimum, and the median state
jail felony bond was 7.5 times higher than the minimum.
Table 2: Bail Amounts Set at the Article 15.17 Hearing11
Offense Level

Sample Size

Class B Misd.
Class A Misd.
State Jail
F3
F2
F1

138
72
75
53
40
28

Minimum Bail
Schedule Amount
$500
$1,000
$2,000
$5,000
$10,000
$20,000

Median Bail
Amount
$2,500
$5,000
$15,000
$15,000
$35,000
$30,000

Personal Recognizance Bonds

Prior to booking at the Harris County Jail, the Pretrial Services Department
screens defendants for personal bond (PR bond) eligibility, subject to a judges
approval.12 If a defendant receives a PR bond, the defendant is released from custody
with a promise to appear in court and does not have to post a monetary bond for the
release. According to the Harris County Pretrial Services Department, in 2014, over
72,000 defendants were interviewed for a PR bond. About 1% of county felony arrestees
and 9% of misdemeanor arrestees were granted PR bonds.13 Those defendants released

HARRIS CNTY. PRETRIAL SERVICES, HARRIS COUNTY PRETRIAL SERVICES 2014 ANNUAL REPORT 8,
http://www.harriscountytx.gov/CmpDocuments/59/Annual%20Reports/2014%20Annual%20Report.pdf .
The $500 amount is the minimum amount listed on the bail schedule for Class B misdemeanor offenses.
9

10

The $2,000 amount is the minimum amount listed on the bail schedule for state jail felony offenses.

The sample sizes differ between Tables 1 and 2 because several case files did not contain the
magistrate warning form. Table 2 only includes those case files in which the magistrate warning form
was part of the case file.
11

See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 17.031. Chapter 17 of the Code of Criminal Procedure provides the
statutory framework for the use of personal bonds (PR bonds). Article 17.031 specifies that any
magistrate in the state may release a defendant eligible for a PR bond under Article 17.03.
12

The report noted 4,578 of 52,506 incarcerated misdemeanor defendants and 338 of 30,518 incarcerated
felony defendants received a PR bond. See HARRIS CNTY. PRETRIAL SERVICES, supra note 9, at 8.
13

on a PR bond and supervised by Pretrial Services had a court appearance rate of

approximately 94%.14
To improve the courts confidence in pretrial risk assessments, Harris County
recently announced the implementation of an updated risk assessment tool, the Public
Safety Assessment tool. The nine factor, data-driven risk assessment tool provides
judges with objective information to assist in their bail decisions with the hope of
reducing the jail population in Harris County and allowing for more personal
recognizance bonds.15 Once the tool is in place and validated for Harris County, the true
nature of its impact will become measurable.
Outcomes for Defendants Not Making Bail
A large percentage of cases in the monitors sample were disposed without the
defendant making bail. Defendants in 50% of misdemeanor cases sampled did not make
bail (an undetermined number of defendants also had pending felony charges). To
determine whether the sample accurately reflected local practices, the monitor
requested data from the JIMS case management system. JIMS data indicates 42% of
FY14 misdemeanor cases were disposed without the defendant making bail. When
defendants did not make bail, 88% of sampled misdemeanor defendants entered pleas
to terms of confinement (127 of 144 sample cases with defendants not making bail). The
punishment ranged from 3 days to 160 days, with a median plea to 25 days of
confinement. The remaining seventeen cases included nine dismissals made in exchange
for a guilty plea in another case, four outright dismissals, and four agreements to
deferred adjudication.16
Overall, defendants did not make bail in 57% of the sampled felony cases. Based
on the same request for JIMS case management data made in misdemeanor cases, 58% of FY14
felony cases were disposed without the defendant making bail. Those felony defendants not

making bail entered pleas to a term of confinement in 89 of 140 sample cases. The
remaining 51 cases included: 18 dismissals made in exchange for a guilty plea in another
case; 16 agreements to deferred adjudication; 9 outright dismissals; 3 active cases; 2
cases in which the defendant was found incompetent to stand trial; 1 dismissal that was
to be re-filed; 1 agreement to probation; and 1 acquittal. While a majority of felony

14

See HARRIS CNTY. PRETRIAL SERVICES, supra note 9, at 22.

Ed Mayberry, New Assessment Tool Helps Judges Decide Whether to Release or Detain Defendants,
HOUSTON PUBLIC MEDIA, May 24, 2016, available at
http://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2016/05/24/152850/new-assessment-tool-helps-judgesdecide-whether-to-release-or-detain-defendants/.
15

While a large percent of the monitors sample included misdemeanor defendants who did not make
bail, data from the Texas Commission on Jail standards indicates only about 6 percent of pretrial
arrestees are detained in the Harris County Jail for a misdemeanor offense (as the highest level of
offense for which the arrestee was charged).
16

defendants who remained jailed entered guilty pleas, there was a much broader range
of case outcomes than in misdemeanor cases.
Table 3: Bonding Information by Class of Offense
Offense Level

Cases Reviewed

Class B Misd.
Class A Misd.
State Jail
F3
F2
F1

193
94
99
66
48
34

% Not Making Bond

49.7%
51.1%
56.6%
50.0%
64.6%
58.8%

Counsel Appointment Systems

Section 79.001 of the Texas Government Code enumerates the various counsel
appointment systems available to counties in Texas. These include assigned counsel
programs, contract defender programs, managed assigned counsel programs, and public
defenders offices. Harris County uses the term assignment system, which most closely
resembles a contract defender program.
The American Bar Associations Ten Principles of a Public Defense Delivery
System are considered the fundamental criteria necessary to design a system that
provides effective and ethical legal representation for criminal defendants who are
unable to afford an attorney.17 The First Principle requires the public defense function,
including the selection, funding, and payment of defense counsel, be independent from
political influence. Managed assigned counsel and public defender programs are
designed to enhance independence from the judiciary by retaining the power over
funding and attorney selection within the program.
In addition to independence from the judiciary, the Ten Principles address
attorney oversight. The Tenth Principle requires defense counsel be supervised and
reviewed for quality and efficiency according to nationally and locally adopted
standards. Both managed assigned counsel and public defender programs provide direct
supervision of attorneys within their programs. In contrast, in assigned and contract
counsel programs, the judiciary, to the extent that it can do so, exercises oversight of
attorneys.18
Assigned Counsel Program
The assigned counsel program is the most common system in Texas. In the typical
assigned counsel program, a judge appoints individual attorneys to cases in a rotating
See AMERICAN BAR ASSN, ABA TEN PRINCIPLES OF A PUBLIC DEFENSE DELIVERY SYSTEM (2002),
http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/legal_aid_indigent_defendants/ls_sclaid_de
f_tenprinciplesbooklet.authcheckdam.pdf)
17

18

TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 26.04(b)(5).

manner. If a judge deviates from the rotating wheel, the judge is required to make a
finding of good cause on the record.19 When run properly, an assigned counsel program
can evenly distribute appointments between attorneys. In an assigned counsel program,
the judge approves all fees for a case, requiring the attorney to petition for investigator
or expert resources.20
Managed Assigned Counsel Program
The managed assigned counsel program is a system new to Texas.21 In a managed
assigned counsel program, a county department, non-profit corporation, or bar
association appoints counsel.22 The program must have a director and a plan of
operation, which includes maximum allowable caseloads for attorneys, provisions for
training, a policy for investigators and expert witnesses, and a policy to ensure
appointments are reasonably and impartially allocated among qualified attorneys.23 The
managed assigned counsel program operates in a manner similar to an assigned counsel
program, except that it is independent of the judiciary and contains a method for the
program staff to directly oversee attorneys performance and caseloads.
Public Defenders Office
Public defender offices are common across the United States but are a growing
trend in Texas. Each public defender office is managed by a chief public defender and
employs attorneys who represent defendants as their full time job.24 When a public
defender is appointed to the case, the office determines which attorney is assigned to the
case. Most offices also employ support staff such as paralegals and investigators.
With a public defender, the performance of attorneys is more easily assessed and
maintained than other systems, and public defenders provide judges with a single point
of contact for issues that arise. The public defender contains important quality controls
such as in house training and supervision and the ability to monitor and control attorney
caseloads. The ability of the office to provide necessary support staff helps ensure the
quality of an attorneys work, as well. The public defender helps insure independence
from the judiciary, parity in resources between the prosecution and defense, controlled
workload for defenders, and the systematic supervision of cases.
the

Harris Countys public defender began operations in FY11 with assistance from
Commissions discretionary grant funds. The office currently provides

19

TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 26.04(a).

20

TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 26.05(c).

21

TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 26.047.

22

See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ART. 26.047(a).

23

TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 26.047(c) (d).

Public defenders are governed by Article 26.044 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and may be either
a government entity or a non-profit corporation. See, e.g., TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 26.044(b); TEX.
CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 26.044(c-1).
24

representation to mentally ill misdemeanor defendants, about 7% of indigent felony

defendants, and a little under 20% of juvenile respondents. In addition, the office
handles half of the appointed appeals in Harris County. In a county where a public
defender is operational, Article 26.04(f) now requires courts to give priority in
appointments to the public defender.25
Contract Defender Program
The Harris County Criminal Courts at Law have moved from the previous term
assignment system to a contract defender program in their indigent defense plan. With
a contract defender program, attorneys contract with the county to represent defendants
in a particular court or group of courts. Contracts must include caseload limits and
provisions for investigators and expert witnesses. The contract must require the
attorney to provide zealous representation to all clients in a professional and skilled
manner.26 While contract programs can reduce indigent defense costs by assigning the
selected attorneys a large volumes of cases, there is no method to provide direct oversight
of the attorneys representation.

Quality of Representation
Variables such as an attorneys skill level, available time to spend on a case, and
resources available to assist with a case can affect the quality of representation delivered
to a defendant. These variables are tied to the level of indigent defense funding and to
the particular type of counsel appointment system operated by the local jurisdiction.
Caseload Standards
To provide effective assistance of counsel, an attorney must ensure a meaningful
adversarial testing of the prosecutions case, often requiring a significant time
investment.27 To more accurately address reasonable caseloads in Texas, the 83rd Texas
Legislature passed House Bill 1318, which instructed the Commission to:
[C]onduct and publish a study for the purpose of determining guidelines for
establishing a maximum allowable caseload for a criminal defense attorney that

TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 26.04(f) requires priority in appointments be given to the public defender
unless the court has reason to appoint other counsel or a managed assigned counsel program will handle
the appointment.
25

26

1 TEX. ADMIN. CODE 174.21 174.24.

27

See United States v. Cronic, 466 U.S. 648, 657 (1984), which states:
The right to the effective assistance of counsel is thus the right of the accused to require the
prosecution's case to survive the crucible of meaningful adversarial testing. When a true adversarial
criminal trial has been conducted even if defense counsel may have made demonstrable errors
the kind of testing envisioned by the Sixth Amendment has occurred. But if the process loses its
character as a confrontation between adversaries, the constitutional guarantee is violated.

... allows the attorney to give each indigent defendant the time and effort necessary
to ensure effective representation.28
The Texas study included an advisory panel of stakeholders who provided input into the
studys methodology. The data used to determine reasonable caseloads included a
timekeeping study, a time sufficiency survey, and feedback from experienced criminal
defense attorneys utilizing the Delphi method.29 The report recommended under the new
Weighted Caseload Guidelines that the maximum annual caseload under which an
attorney could provide reasonably effective representation was 128 felony cases of
mixed offense levels or 226 misdemeanor cases of mixed offense levels.30
According to data from the Harris County Auditors Office for FY14, of 325 private
attorneys disposing indigent felony or misdemeanor cases, 162 had appointed caseloads
within Harris County exceeding the Guidelines. A total of 76 attorneys had caseloads
more than twice the recommended total, and one attorney had a caseload nearly six
times the recommended total. These caseloads do not include appointed cases from other
counties or other retained or civil work. In FY16, the Harris County Criminal County
Courts at Law adopted maximum appointed misdemeanor caseloads of 600 cases per
year and reduced the maximum number of new appointments from seven per day to five
per day. See Appendix E5 for a complete listing of appointed counsel caseloads.
Resources
Use of Investigators
One type of resource necessary for effective representation is investigative
services. The National Study Commission on Defense Services (NSC) developed a
standard that calls for one full-time investigator for every three full-time attorneys.31
Under the Weighted Caseload Guidelines, this would require a total of 120 full-time
investigators for assigned counsel cases in Harris County (69.2 full-time investigators
for non-capital felony cases and 50.8 investigators for misdemeanor cases). Table 4
compares the use of and spending on investigative services in Harris County and
statewide. Defense attorneys in Harris County regularly utilize investigators for felony

Act of May 17, 2013, Tex. H.B. 1318, 83rd Leg., R.S., ch. 912, 8, 2013 TEX. GEN LAWS 2268, available
at http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/83R/billtext/html/HB01318F.HTM.
28

Additional details about the Delphi method can be found at

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delphi_method.
29

See PUB. POLICY RESEARCH INST. AT TEXAS A&M UNIV., GUIDELINES FOR INDIGENT DEFENSE
CASELOADS: A REPORT TO THE TEXAS INDIGENT DEFENSE COMMISSION at 28 (2015), available at
http://www.tidc.texas.gov/media/31818/150122_weightedcl_final.pdf (last visited June 8, 2016). The
Commission has not adopted these maximum recommended caseloads.
30

NATL STUDY COMMN ON DEF. SERVICES, GUIDELINES FOR LEGAL DEFENSE SYSTEMS IN THE UNITED
STATES Guideline 4.1 (1976). The Commission has not adopted a standard relating to an expected use of
investigative services.
31

cases (especially the public defender), but do so much less frequently in misdemeanor
cases.
Table 4: Use and Spending on Licensed Investigators
FY14 Investigators

Non-Capital Felony Cases

Percent of
Percent of
Cases Used
Expenses

Harris County Public

Defender32
Harris County Private
Counsel33
State of Texas34

Misdemeanor Cases
Percent of
Percent of
Cases Used
Expenses

16.9%

13.7%

3.0%

9.4%

5.6%

7.7%

0.04%

0.2%

n/a

4.2%

n/a

1.5%

In FY14, the public defender employed seven investigators who provided services
in 352 felony cases.35 This corresponds to just under 16.9% of felony cases disposed by
the public defender. Comparatively, private counsel obtains investigators by petitioning
the court to approve investigative expenses. If the court approves the expense, the
attorney contracts with an investigator to perform services not to exceed a specific dollar
amount. Private attorneys used investigators in 1,494 felony cases (5.6% of indigent
felony cases disposed by private counsel).36 Both the public defender and assigned
counsel exceeded the statewide average for percentage of expenses spent on
investigators.
Investigators are used much less frequently in misdemeanor cases. The public
defender only represents misdemeanor defendants with a serious mental illness. The
focus of an investigation in mental health cases often relates to the mental illness, and
is performed by both social workers and investigators.37 For FY14, the public defender
utilized investigator time in 47 cases. Private appointed attorneys used investigators in
only 13 cases (0.04% of indigent misdemeanor cases disposed by private counsel). The
use of investigators in misdemeanor cases appears to be significantly below the level
recommended by the NSC guidelines.
Mental Health Resources
According to a 2013 report by the Council of State Government Justice Center,
every year the Harris County Jail processes over 10,000 defendants with mental
Based on reports in the 2014 IDER. The percent of expenses was found by dividing the public defender
investigator expenses reported for the case level by the other expenses reported for the case level.
32

33

Id.

As reported by counties to the Commission in annual expenditure reports. This includes both private
counsel expenses and public defender expenses.
34

35

Data obtained from Harris County Public Defender defenderData case management system.

36

As found on detailed data reports from the auditors office.

37

Data obtained from Harris County Public Defender defenderData case management system.

10

illness.38 Interviews and survey responses indicated that significant barriers exist to
defendants with mental illness receiving adequate treatment and representation in
Harris County. Insufficient community resources, such as housing and transportation,
was cited as a major contributor to an inability to stabilize clients.39 A lack of awareness
around available guilt-phase defenses and sentencing mitigation was also cited as a
challenge to securing good dispositions for clients with mental illness.
Mental Health Screenings
Once an inmate has been identified as a person who may have a mental illness,
Texas statutes require action on the part of the magistrate. Article 16.22 of the Texas
Code of Criminal Procedure directs magistrates to collect (through a mental health
expert or authority) mental health information on any individual in custody when there
is reasonable cause to believe that individual is mentally ill. After the authority draws
up a written assessment, the magistrate must turn the report over to the trial court,
defense counsel, and the prosecuting attorney within thirty days for a felony and ten
days for a misdemeanor. The court can use this report in competency proceedings,
punishment considerations, and in the release of a detained defendant on a personal
recognizance bond for treatment, as spelled out in Article 17.032.40
Personal Recognizance Bonds
Article 17.032 directs magistrates to release on a personal recognizance (PR) bond
a mentally ill defendant charged with a non-violent offense in order to seek
recommended mental health treatment. According to the criminal defense survey
gathered during the Harris County monitoring review, just over 30% of attorneys
representing a defendant with mental illness reported that they had secured a personal
recognizance bond for the client.41 Reasons attorneys failed to secure PR bonds for their
clients included the courts reluctance to grant them, attorneys not asking for them, and
the lack of available community resources and supervision for clients if bonded.
Attorney responses to the survey indicated a lack of awareness of Article 17.032
and the requirement the court bond a defendant with mental illness if a treatment plan
is in place. In order for defense attorneys to secure more personal bonds for clients with
mental illness, more training and greater community resources are necessary.

COUNCIL OF STATE GOVS JUSTICE CENT., IMPROVING INDIGENT DEFENSE: EVALUATION OF THE HARRIS
COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER 15 (2013), available at http://harriscountypublicdefender.org/wpcontent/uploads/2013/10/JCHCPDFinalReport.pdf.
38

39

APPENDIX D, Harris County Criminal Defense Attorney Survey.

40

TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 16.22.

41

APPENDIX D, Harris County Criminal Defense Attorney Survey.

11

Mental Health Division of the Harris County Public Defender

Defendants identified as having a qualifying mental illness are appointed to the
public defender or to private attorneys approved for the mental health lists.42
Defendants appointed to the mental health division of the public defender office are
offered holistic defense services through the offices seven specialized mental health law
attorneys (plus a divisional head), and three psychosocial support staff (two social
workers and an investigator).43 The public defender attempts to minimize a clients jail
time, especially when competency issues arise.44 Support staff addresses matters related
to housing, treatment, medication, and further clinical assessments. 45 In-house
investigators are available to more readily challenge the factual allegations surrounding
a clients case.46 Due to these efforts, clients represented by the public defender are far
more likely to have a case dismissed than clients represented by private attorneys with
mental health specialization or general term assignment attorneys.47

Conclusion
The Commissions examination of Harris Countys pretrial and counsel
appointment systems revealed several ways in which outcomes for defendants could be
improved. Harris Countys pretrial system results in a large percentage of defendants
cases disposed without the defendant making bail, producing more pleas to terms of
confinement and fewer dismissals. Harris Countys receipt of the MacArthur Foundation
grant to implement reform of the countys pretrial practices should assist in studying
the impact of personal bonds and presence of defense counsel at the Article 15.17
hearing.48

In order to qualify for the services of the MHD or a specialized attorney, a misdemeanor defendant
must meet one of three alternate criteria that make up Harris Countys mental health algorithm:
1. On psychoactive drugs in the last 90 days;
2. Diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or major depression; or
3. Assigned to jails specialty mental health housing.
42

COUNCIL OF STATE GOVS JUSTICE CENT., HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER PRELIMINARY REPORT ON
OPERATIONS AND OUTCOMES 52 54 (2012), available at http://tidc.tamu.edu/DGReportDocuments/21213-D03%20%20HC%20PDO%20Report%20from%20Justice%20Center%2010-19-12.pdf. The public
defender defines holistic defense as a client-centered and interdisciplinary model of public defense that
addresses the circumstances driving poor people into the criminal justice system and the consequences
of that involvement by offering comprehensive legal representation, social work support, and advocacy
for the client.
43

44

Id. at 54.

45

Id. at 52 53.

46

Id. at 52 54.

47

COUNCIL OF STATE GOVS JUSTICE CENT., supra note 38, at 30 31.

Harris County Receives $2M MacArthur Foundation Grant, available at

https://cjcc.harriscountytx.gov/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=5&ContentTypeId=0x0104000ABF5C22D5
E7AD4EA3AF19B2D69F8C22 (last accessed October 10, 2016).
48

12

As noted earlier, Harris County currently appoints counsel through term

assignments (in which an attorney accepts multiple appointments to unspecified
defendants in a particular court), individual appointments, and the public defender.
Managed assigned counsel programs provide a level of independence by delegating the
selection, funding, and payment of counsel to a private defender. The county courts
potential adoption of a managed assigned counsel program may prove advantageous for
the county.
The high case volume of many Harris County attorneys limits available time and
resources for defendants. In FY14, 76 attorneys in Harris County disposed more than
twice the number of indigent defense cases recommended under the Weighted Caseload
Guidelines. Without reasonable time to devote to their cases, attorneys may struggle to
provide zealous representation.49 Defense counsels workload must be controlled to
permit the rendering of quality representation.50 Implementation of reasonable caseload
limits would help achieve this goal.
Indigent defense expense reporting and attorney voucher review indicated that
assigned counsel in Harris County do not regularly utilize specialized support services
in all kinds of cases. The Harris County Public Defenders Office employs seven
investigators and three mental health support staff to provide regular, on-hand case
support services for public defender clients. Defendant outcomes likely could be
improved by expanding access to both investigative and mental health services for
assigned counsel.
With over four million residents, Harris County is the largest indigent defense
provider in the state. Harris Countys current initiative to improve its pretrial system
has the potential to positively affect thousands of defendants each year. Continuing to
examine the best way to allocate available resources to indigent defendants should
remain a priority as the county moves forward.

See, TEX. DISCIPLINARY R. PROF. CONDUCT, available at

https://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Table_of_contents&Template=/CM/ContentDispla
y.cfm&ContentID=27271 (last accessed October 10, 2016). Preamble, a Lawyers Responsibilities:
In all professional functions, a lawyer should zealously pursue clients interests within the bounds of
the law. In doing so, a lawyer should be competent, prompt, and diligent.
49

See also, State Bar of Texas, Performance Guidelines for Non-Capital Criminal Defense Representation
(2011), available at
https://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Texas_Bar_Journal&Template=/CM/ContentDispl
ay.cfm&ContentID=14703 (last accessed October 10, 2016). Guideline 1.1 Role of Defense Counsel:
The primary and most fundamental obligation of defense counsel is to provide zealous and effective
representation for the client at all stages of the criminal process.
See, THE ABA TEN PRINCIPLES OF A PUBLIC DEFENSE DELIVERY SYSTEM, Principle 5 (2002), available
at
http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/legal_aid_indigent_defendants/ls_sclaid_de
f_tenprinciplesbooklet.authcheckdam.pdf (last accessed October 10, 2016).
50

13

Appendix A
Letter from Senator Rodney Ellis to the Texas Indigent Defense
Commission

14

The Senate of
The State of Texas
SENATOR RODNEY ELLIS
District 13
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE
1999-2000

COMMITTEES:
Vice Chair, State Affairs
Business and Commerce
Transportation

September 7, 2015
Mr. James Bethke
Executive Director
Texas Indigent Defense Commission
209 West 14th Street, Room 202
Austin, Texas 78701
Mr. Bethke:
I am pleased your agency will be doing an assessment on Harris County's indigent defense
system. The quality of the reports your agency performs are a tremendous resource to help
counties improve their indigent defense systems.
I have reviewed your plan to audit Harris County's indigent system and I am confident that your
team will do a thorough and effective evaluation. However, there are some additional issues
within the county's indigent defense system of concern that are out of the purview of your
assessment that I request your agency to address as well.
1. The appointment of counsel system as it relates to the expansion of the public defender's
office and the utilization of a managed assigned counsel program Currently, 95 percent of
the indigent cases are handled by a court appointed system. This system can present
several challenges for judges to effectively provide the oversight and quality control
required given their primary duties. This is one big reason the American Bar
Associations first principle of public defense says that the public defense function,
including the selection, funding, and payment of defense counsel, is independent. Harris
County should look expand their public defender's office and implement a managed
assigned counsel program, to ensure that the appointment of counsel is independent of the
judiciary.
2. Harris County's pretrial system as it relates to indigent defense. As of June 2015, 75
percent of individuals of Harris County jail were pre-trial detainee, many of which are
unable to afford the bond to get out. Harris County should look at ways to improve their
pretrial system, like the assignment of counsel at the magistrate hearing or increase use of
personal bonds, so that the determinative factor in an individual's release is not their
ability to pay for a bond.

15

3. The effect of underfunding the Harris County's indigent defense system and the lack of
caseload standards attorney caseloads on the quality of representation In 2014, Harris
County spent $8.11 on indigent defense per capita lower than the state average of 8.63.
In 2011, attorneys had appointed caseloads three or four times the maximum
recommended caseload limit, including one attorney who handled over 890 cases in one
year, 383 of which were felonies in Harris County. The result is a system where attorneys
have overwhelming caseloads and arent getting the necessary resources for real
investigation or experts. Harris County should increase spending on indigent defense and
institute caseload standards for appointed attorneys to ensure indigent defendants receive
quality representation.
Again, I thank your office for taking on this great task. Indigent defense is an important function
of government and it is important that our system gives persons equal access under the law,
regardless if he or she is rich or poor.

Sincerely,

Rodney Ellis
Lyric Centre
440 Louisiana, Suite 575
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 236-0306
FAX: (713) 236-0604

P.O. Box 12068

Austin, TX 78711
(512) 463-0113
FAX: (512) 463-0006
Dial 711 For Relay Calls
E-Mail: [email protected]

2440 Texas Parkway, Suite 110

Missouri City, TX 77489
(281) 261-2360
FAX: (281) 261-4726

16

Appendix B - Harris County Indigent Defense Statistics

Harris County

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Population (Non-Census years are estimates)

Non-Capital Felony Charges Added (from OCA
report)
Non-capital Felony Cases Paid

4,092,459

4,209,769

4,279,430

4,365,601

4,503,245

27,213,214

45,919
28,649

43,935
26,612

43,704
27,820

42,516
28,669

40,972
27,173

271,744
193,560

62%

61%

64%

67%

66%

71%

% Felony Charges Defended with Appointed Counsel

Non-Capital Felony Private Counsel Attorney Fees
Total Non-Capital Felony Private Counsel
Expenditures
Non-Capital Felony Public Defender Attorney
Expenditures
Total Felony Public Defender Expenditures
Misdemeanor Charges Added (from OCA report)
Misdemeanor Cases Paid
% Misdemeanor Charges Defended with Appointed
Counsel
Misdemeanor Private Counsel Attorney Fees
Total Misdemeanor Private Counsel Expenditures
Misdemeanor Public Defender Attorney Expenditures
Total Misdemeanor Public Defender Expenditures
Juvenile Charges Added (from OCA report)
Juvenile Cases Paid
Juvenile Private Counsel Attorney Fees
Total Juvenile Private Counsel Expenditures
Juvenile Public Defender Attorney Expenditures
Total Juvenile Public Defender Expenditures
Total ID Expenditures
Total ID Expenditures per Population
Commission Formula-Type Grant Disbursements
Commission Discretionary Grant Disbursements

Texas 2015

$12,982,328

$12,453,243

$12,508,067

$13,722,953

$14,536,184

$101,106,716

$15,058,417

$13,512,354

$13,704,947

$16,499,795

$16,327,359

$112,645,365

$47,773
$47,773

$1,742,201

$2,039,797

$2,102,927

77,912
38,406

$2,701,954

$2,555,407
$3,412,359

$2,649,210
$3,490,810

73,970
36,994

71,588
36,900

68,527
36,024

67,284
35,972

503,299
222,408

49%
$3,084,244

50%
$2,975,547

52%
$3,098,552

53%
$3,311,278

53%
$3,353,274

44%
$39,141,724

$3,097,980

$2,999,293

$3,118,144

$3,370,671

$3,367,198

$40,061,131

$356,142

$727,288

$745,878

$856,181

$1,224,879

$7,440,816

$970,558
9,991
7,521
$2,028,198
$2,111,490

$1,835,848
9,722
7,874
$2,052,779
$2,188,406
$1,068,817

$1,829,312
8,206
6,646
$2,278,071
$2,381,775
$1,177,328

$26,706,584
$6.53

$1,239,488
$30,246,013
$7.18

$1,408,299
$31,654,468
$7.40

$1,236,175
8,344
6,438
$2,317,833
$2,456,660
$989,506
$1,328,115
$35,425,781
$8.11

$4,236,250

$1,760,329

$2,720,662

$5,522,894

$3,246,970
$5,942,005
$1,619,916
$2,026,776
Costs Recouped from Defendants
$75,840
$69,495
$62,660
$53,595
* Capital murder and appeals cases and expenses are not itemized, but are included in total ID expenses.

$1,548,864
8,415
6,225
$2,479,487
$2,654,579
$1,076,137

$12,540,555
$15,787,858

$1,520,061
$36,018,642
$8.00

$10,009,373
31,813
41,068
$11,072,434
$11,747,908
$3,947,447
$5,326,741
$238,029,838
$8.75

$3,611,531

$23,931,689

n/a
$49,979

$4,653,880
$11,530,419

17

Appendix C
District and County Court Bail Schedules

18

District Court Bail Schedule

Offense

Bail

All capital felonies

No Bond

All murders not particularly specified below

$50,000.00

All first degree felonies not particularly specified below

$20,000.00

All second degree felonies not particularly specified below

$10,000.00

All felony DWIs not particularly specified below

$10,000.00

All third degree felonies not particularly specified below

$5,000.00

All fourth degree felonies not particularly specified below

$2,000.00

Repeat Offenders

Bail

Habitual

No Bond

First degree felony with previous conviction

$30,000.00

Second degree felony with previous conviction

$20,000.00
Double bound amount for each
previous felony DWI conviction

Felony DWI with previous felony DWI conviction

Third degree felony with previous conviction

$10,000.00

Fourth degree (State Jail) felony with previous conviction

$5,000.00

Fourth degree (State Jail) felony with more than one

previous conviction

$15,000.00

Defendant on Bail for any Felony Charge with:

Bail

Frist degree felony

No Bond

Second degree felony

No Bond

Third degree felony

No Bond

Fourth degree (State Jail) felony

No Bond

Particular Situations

Bail
Separate standard bail for each
offense in the transaction

Multiple Count
Person on felony probation for any grade of felony

No Bond

Any 3g offense or where deadly weapon alleged

$30,000.00

Person with deportation history or undocumented presence

in United States

$35,000.00

Motion to Revoke Probation

No Bond

Motion to Adjudicate Guilt

At the Judges Discretion

Large quantities of controlled substance or the quantities of

stolen property

Established: 4/2/79
Amended: 2/4/82
Amended: 7/13/94
Amended: 9/7/94

Effective: 9/1/94
Effective: 9/8/94

Double the value of large controlled

substance or property

Amended: 9/11/96
Amended: 1/7/98
Amended: 12/6/06

Effective: 9/16/96
Effective: 2/1/98
Effective: 1/1/07

19

HARRIS COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTS AT LAW

RULE 9. SETTING AND MODIFYING BAIL
SCHEDULE OF BAIL AMOUNTS
Pursuant to the agreed final judgment and order of the federal court in Roberson v.
Richardson (No. H-84-2974), Southern District of Texas [1987]), the Harris County Criminal
Court at Law Judges promulgate this initial bail schedule. The district attorney shall affix an
initial bail amount at the time a complaint is filed in a county criminal court at law. The initial
bail amount shall be determined by either presenting relevant information in the possession
of the district attorney to a county criminal court at law judge, or Harris County Hearing
Officer, or by applying the initial bail schedule. The district clerk shall record the bail amount
set by the judicial officer or applied by the district attorney from the initial bail schedule in the
case file. This shall be the exclusive means of setting the initial amount of bail, unless
otherwise directed by the Judges of the Harris County Criminal Courts at Law.

Misdemeanor Bail Schedule

Class:

B, Standard Offense
1st Offense

$500

2nd Offense

$500, plus $500 for each prior misdemeanor

conviction
plus $1,000 for each prior felony conviction
Not to exceed $5,000

Class:

Class:

Class:

Class:

A, Standard Offense
1st Offense

$1,000

2nd Offense

$1,000, plus $500 for each prior misdemeanor

conviction
$1,000 plus $1,000 for each prior felony
conviction
not to exceed $5,000

Family Violence or Threat of Violence

1st Offense

$1,500

2nd Offense

Plus $2,000 for each prior conviction for a

violent offense or threat of violence

DWI
First Offense

$500

Subsequent Offense

$2,500 plus $1,000 for each prior conviction

not to exceed $5,000

Any offense committed while on bond,

community supervision, intervention, or
parole.
Any motion to adjudicate or revoke
community supervision.

$5,000
$5,000

20

The initial bail amount shall be determined by application of the bail schedule.
In any case where the district attorney desires a bond higher than that on the bail
schedule, the district attorney shall make a request to a judge of the county criminal
court at law or a criminal law hearing officer. The order, when signed by the judge or
hearing officer shall be provided to the district clerk along with the complaint and
information for filing.
The district clerk shall apply the amount of bond from the bail schedule except in
cases where the district attorney has provided the clerk with an order setting bail
signed by a judge a county criminal court at law or a criminal law hearing officer, in
which case the clerk will apply the amount of bail provided for in the order setting bail.
If the clerk does not receive an order setting bail or if the amount of bail exceeds the
amount provided for in the bail schedule, the clerk shall make an entry in the bail field
as provided by Rule 2D, and bail will then be set by a judicial officer.

21

Appendix D
HARRIS COUNTY APPOINTED ATTORNEY SURVEY
INTRODUCTION
As part of its monitoring review of Harris Countys indigent defense system, in late 2015
the Texas Indigent Defense Commission (TIDC) conducted an online survey of attorneys
who represent indigent defendants in Harris County. The survey was distributed to the
Harris County indigent defense appointment lists and the public defenders office, and
received a total of 176 responses.
SURVEY METHODOLOGY
The 33-question survey, designed by TIDC staff and administered through SurveyMonkey,
contained a mix of multiple choice, matrix, check the box, and open-ended questions. The
questions covered a wide range of appointment, representation, and indigent client services
issues in Harris County. The survey did not require that all questions be answered, and
survey data show that respondents did skip questions. In the interest of transparency, the
survey analysis is attached in full to this summary.1
SUMMARY
Although the surveys open-ended questions prevent absolute uniformity in answers,
several conclusions can be taken from the survey.
1) While a majority of attorney-respondents believe the appointment
distribution process is fair, a sizeable minority feel otherwise. Approximately
37% of the 172 respondents that answered the question Do you believe appointments
are distributed in a fair manner? answered No. When asked to explain why they
believed distribution was not fair, respondents commonly pointed to judicial
favoritism of certain attorneys, judicial disregard of the wheel, and court preference
to move dockets quickly. Consider the following comments:
Most courts use the same few attorneys the majority of the time.
Courts in general are more about moving cases than about justice for
individuals, therefore they seek to appoint lawyers that will move cases at all
cost, usually to the detriment of the client!
[T]he fact that the Judges are prior [H]arris [C]ounty prosecutors appointing
their co[-]workers is obvious to all attorneys in [the] court room[.]
2) Many attorneys expressed concern that the term assignment system
produces poor outcomes for clients. Nevertheless, a large majority of
For the Summary section, TIDC staff edited respondent answers for clarity and readability. In the text boxes
following each individual question in the Survey Analysis Data section, however, staff modified only the format
and paragraph settings of the responses. Respondent spelling and grammatical errors remain intact.
1

22

respondents believe indigent clients receive quality representation through

the system. Of the 162 attorneys who answered Do you feel that clients receive
quality representation through the term assignment system? approximately 80%
answered Yes. But throughout the survey, respondents connected heavy caseloads
to poor quality of representation and warned of pressure to plea clients to meet
caseload numbers. Consider the following comments:
Attorneys are generally selected for their efficiency with moving the court's
docket. This rarely translates to quality representation.
[Appointed attorneys] are heavily pressured to plead a volume of cases. They
do not have time to perform adequate investigation.
Although many appointed lawyers do provide quality representation by virtue
of the fact that they are good lawyers, the appointment system in general is so
corrupt that the majority of cases cannot receive individual attention due to
overworked, unmotivated, and underpaid counsel.
3) The logistics of getting to and meeting with a court-appointed client pose
an increasing challenge to appointed counsel. Throughout the survey,
respondents who addressed problems faced by counsel in visiting jailed clients
commonly highlighted client access and parking issues. Consider the following
comments:
When they reduced our rates, parking was about $2.50 per day[.] [N]ow those
same lots are charging $10-$12 per day...yet we are still getting the same
rates.
Wish it was easier to get into the jail, especially if we have a court access
badge, after passing criminal background check. Also, wish easier to get a
computer into [the] jail to effectively review a case with client, without having
to get a court order to do so.
I would like to see the HCSO streamline our visits so they are less time
consuming. I have waited for a client for over 45 minutes only to have to leave
due to other appointments without ever seeing the client. [. . .] Driving to the
jail, paying for parking, and then spending an hour with your client can be
financially challenging.
4) When respondents seek personal recognizance bonds for jailed clients with
mental illness, they have encountered resistance from the judiciary. Court
concern over continuity of care and potential threats to public safety (with political
repercussions) were frequently cited by the 73 respondents who elaborated on why
they thought personal recognizance bonds were or were not being granted to mentally
ill clients. Consider the following comments:
I think that Judges generally feel that they are more likely to get evaluated
and helped if they remain in the system. A compelling case would have to be
made that the client's family will seek help and ensure client would make court
dates and get help.
It's rare, but the court has given them on some cases. I think the judge is
afraid a defendant will commit a new offense while on bond.

23

I don't think the judiciary views mental illness as a reason for PR bonds. I
think most judges feel such illnesses are a good reason to keep defendants in
jail where, the judges believe, the defendant will have better access to
treatment.
5) Common respondent feedback regarding the Harris County appointment
system included the need to address low attorney and investigator fees,
move to an independent selection system, and reduce caseload counts.
Respondents emphasized the need for increased appointment fees, both for counsel
and investigators. A handful of respondents suggested the fee structure was the
reason why they were considering withdrawing from appointment lists. Moreover,
many expressed concern over the connection between the current appointment
system, case outcomes, and attorney fees. Many respondents noted that the current
system puts clients at risk. Consider the following comments:
The day rate pay is not enough for the amount of time and effort that you put
forth to represent these clients. Often times you end up spending a lot of out of
court hours explaining [. . .] the situation that your client is in to concerned
family members of the defendant. Many judges do not pay for out of court
hours. This leaves an attorney with only $50 per reset after the initial day rate
of $250, which you can have up to 5 clients which you represent in that day.
I am displeased with our fee arrangements. [. . .] I am perplexed why we are
not paid for two law violations that happen to be out of the same transaction.
That may mean that I do less out of court hours but when preparing for two
separate defenses, which is often the case, it seems only fair to pay us for our
time, skill level and work. I am not impressed with so many of my colleges
[sic] who rarely try cases, and with whom take hundreds of court appointed
cases, most frighteningly, felony cases. I do not think it is possible to be an
effective voice for our client's [sic] when you are spread so thin.
I believe the rate for investigators should be increased because there are so
few investigators will [sic] to work for court-appointed rates.
The system cannot begin to have even the appearance of propriety until you
remove the ability to appoint counsel from the judges or judges' staff, and move
to an independent appointed counsel system.
Sometimes, innocent people go to prison. Puts a knot in my chest.
SURVEY ANALYSIS DATA
1. About how many retained criminal cases do you handle in a year?
Answer Options

0-5

Misdemeanor
Felony

76
72

6-25

26-50

43
24
54
15
answered question
skipped question

More than 50
20
15
171
5

24

2. About how many appointed criminal cases do you receive in a year?

Answer Options
Misdemeanor
Felony

0-25

26-100

74
59

26
43

101-200

18
42
answered question
skipped question

More than 200

22
12
172
4

3. For appointed counsel cases, in what capacities do you provide representation? Select all
that apply.
Answer Options
Public Defender
Appointment to an individual case
Term Assignment
Other (please specify)

Response Percent
17.4%
66.9%
63.4%
4.7%
answered question
skipped question

Response Count
30
115
109
8
172
4

Other (please specify)

Appeal only
I am not taking cases at this time. I am on a sabatical.
I only represent juveniles in Juvenile Court
appeal
Contract term assignment
Drug Court counsel
None... I've never been contacted or called
The appointment system in Harris County is terrible. All the same lawyers get the court appointments in
all the courts. I wasted my time by applying and taking the exam over a year ago and I still am waiting for
my first appointment.
4. Do you offer bonding services in addition to your practice?
Answer Options
Yes
No

Response Percent
4.6%
95.4%
answered question
skipped question

Response Count
8
165
173
3

25

5. Have you had any difficulties receiving admission to the panel for either individual or term
assignments?
Answer Options
Yes
No
Not Applicable

Response
Percent

Response
Count

7.0%
73.8%
19.2%
answered question
skipped question

12
127
33
172
4

6. Please explain any difficulties you had receiving admission to the panel.
Response
Count

Answer Options

10
answered question
skipped question

10
166

Response Text
I never get appointments consistently on "the wheel". It is always hand-picked by the judge.
Harris County does not appoint me because I have sued them in the past.
Not sure of this question. I sign up for every day, am qualified for all felonies from capital murder lead
counsel on down, yet in the last 16 weeks I have received all of 4 cases and one attorney of the day. I have
gone 8 weeks and now six weeks without and appointment in that time period. Meanwhile, the same
favorites and cronies receive up to several hundred appointments a year.
Not listed for 2nd or 1st degree felonies, although qualified.
Passing the test; only called for misd appts for 2 (3 month) terms
No calls misdemeanors.
I did not know enough judges to get appointed to the felony panel in Harris County.
Have never been contacted
The judges held up my application because they wanted to question me about the circumstances of my
departure from an employer
My difficulties are that all of the appointments go to the same people.
7. Do you believe appointments are distributed in a fair manner?
Answer Options
Yes
No

Response
Percent

Response Count

62.8%
37.2%
answered question
skipped question

108
64
172
4

8. Please explain why you do not believe appointments are distributed in a fair manner.
Answer Options

Response Count
61
answered question
skipped question
Response Text

61
115

26

courts can pick individual attorneys

There are certain courts that never call certain people.
The wheels are not used in a systemic and equitable manner. Certain people are on lists that they should
not be (ie - attorneys on appellate lists who do not do appeals or use ghost writers)
Judges select individual attorneys who are required to move the maximum amount of cases which does not
best serve the clients. In addition, judges give favor to former prosecutors with very little if any defense
experience who do little more than plea out every case because they have never been trained to do defense
work.
harris county judges play favorites game.
I believe Judges want specific attorneys to be in their courts and I don't have a problem with that.
Too many courts where never been called or appointed
Because judges control who gets the appointments
I think that some judges appoint their friends only
Generally they are but some courts recycle a small amount of lawyers or purposely exclude certain lawyers.
This might be merit based so I'm not sure that it's necessarily unfair.
Anecdotally, it seems that appeals are not evenly distributed. Hard to know if this actually reflects reality.
The "wheel" (random selection) is simply ignored by many Courts.
All of the courts are not using the wheel
For appointment of cases for individuals on bond, most judges take a defendant's word as to their financial
resources without regard to proof. The amount of appointed cases we are receiving is absolutely absurd.
We need a system to ferret out the persons who would truly qualify for court appointed counsel and not just
because judges would like to reduce their docket and appoint counsel because they are tired of resetting
individuals that refuse to hire an attorney.
Most of the trial courts have abandoned the wheel as a selection tool, accept as a screening device. if you
are on the wheel and they like you, they will just call you instead of going to the wheel.
at the whim of judge/coordinator
Judges appoint the same campaign contributors time after time
I only question the distribution because I'm not aware of what the actual policy is in terms of how the
appointments actually are distributed
I said they were.
I can see how many cases other people are getting.
My own experience. I have been signed up for every day of the year. I am qualified for every class of felony
up to capital murder and on the Spanish speaking list. Yet I have had only 50 cases in the last year. During
that year I have twice gone as long as 2 months without a single appointment. As I write it has been 6 weeks
since my last appointment. By contrast there are a few favored attorneys who literally receive 200, 300,
even 400 appointments a year. I watch the district clerk's list and see these same attorneys receive multiple
appointments per week while I am all but shut out for weeks even months at a time.
Some attorneys receive more appointments than other
News articles and informed blogs regarding inequities, and individual court policies that, due to the extreme
level of trial experience required, effectively limit appointments to former prosecutors.
grossly unqualified people are deemed "qualified" while actually qualified people are not so deemed.
Many courts do distribute appointments fairly but there are a number of courts that do not. I believe the
courts that do not distribute cases fairly have a handful of lawyers they like to use and assign them to cases
as long as they are "on the wheel" on the date of appointment.
As a Spanish speaking attorney, I seem to get passed over when new term assignments are being handed
out.
I was on the misdemeanor list for more than a year before receiving one appointment.
This is not a belief. It is factually based that certain attorneys receive a disproportionate amount of cases
based on many factors, such as relationships with judges or court staff, judicial campaign contributions,
reputation as someone who can "move" cases quickly, etc.
The power to appoint lies with elected judges, not a non-partisan organization. Many judges operate small
fiefdoms
Most courts use the same few attorneys the majority of the time.

27

It appears that same lawyers are always appointed in particular courts and the fact that the Judges are
prior harris county prosecuters appointing their prior co workers is obvious to all attorneys in court room.
I've been on the list for appointments for appeals for a few years and I have only received one appoinment
on such cases.
Judges have a lot of discretion to choose their favorite attorneys to work their courts.
I believe Judges want specific attorneys to be in their courts and I don't have a problem with that.
some misdemeanor courts use their own attorneys & not the wheel system
Some lawyers are appointed regularly in some courts and others rarely. The courts have a way to
manipulate the system to get a particular lawyer then want to work with, I believe.
It depends on the county, but it can be improved
I've never been contacted and no reason exists
I think many incompetent attorneys are on the appointment list and are given cases despite being
ineffective.
Courts in general are more about moving cases than about justice for individuals, therefore they seek to
appoint lawyers that will move cases at all cost, usually to the detriment of the client!
some judges only use certain lawyers and exclude others
It is incomprehensible how some court appointed lawyer handled hundreds and hundreds of cases each
year. There is no possible way that they could be effective and it is a shame that this practice is tolerated.
"The wheel" is not used uniformly
Same reason as previously stated. All of the same attorneys get the benefit of receiving court appointments.
The system is broke and crooked. I find it hard to believe that the same group of lawyers are lucky enough
to get picked for appointments every single day. I have received zero appointments in the year that I have
been on the list. And I'm sure nobody is going to do anything at all about it.
I'm somewhat skeptical that the appointments are distributed in a random or systematic fashion based on
the disparity in cases received by one attorney compared to another.
I believe under the wheel system the judges still appoint their friends most of the time. I don't know if the
judge doesn't use the wheel or it is manipulated but it does not make sense to me how the same attorneys
are the ones appointed in the same court all the time.
Judges have sole discretion on who to appoint
Lawyers who routinely engage in unprofessional behavior continue to receive many appointments and many
appointed lawyers are so overloaded with cases that they cannot possibly provide effective assistance.
Pay for play. Good ole boy system.
Privileges extended to personal friends and contributors
The same people are repeatedly appointed in certain courts although the courts are theoretically utilizing
a random appointment system.
due to the volume of cases some lawyers (not that go either) have and those good one have a lot less.
favortism
Some judges refuse to use the public defender's office
I still believe that there are "favorites" in each court that get a larger number of cases.
Judges can bypass systems in place and appoint whomever they wish to
the appointments are controlled by the judges. They should be independent. Appointments should not be
based on political contributions or on making the judge happy.
A few judges do not use the wheel. I believe appointments that are not handled via the wheel are not
distributed fairly.
I work in the Juvenile courts and the Judges do not follow the wheel for appointing attorneys all the time
Judges have the option of selecting whom to appoint. If a judge is upset with you, they can decide not to
appoint you to any cases out of their court.
The same attorneys seem to work in the felony courts of Harris County despite the Fair Defense Act "wheel"
system. I believe the court coordinators may manipulate the wheel to choose the attorneys they want.
Judges often do not follow the Plan or the Fair Defense Act.

28

9. Do you feel that clients receive quality representation through the term assignment system
(e.g., daily/weekly/month terms/yearly)?
Answer Options
Yes
No

Response
Percent
80.9%
19.1%
answered question
skipped question

Response
Count
131
31
162
14

10. Please explain why you do not think clients receive quality representation through the
term assignment system and to which type of term assignment you refer.
Answer Options

Response Count
32
answered question
skipped question

32
144

Response Text
I have never worked a term assignment
The contract attorney system some courts employ is unfair.
Term assignments are too much work for an individual lawyer over time. It wears down ever the best and
well intentioned lawyers. In addition, it tends to create an environment where conformity with the system
is required. I mean that the lawyer is left to stop pushing back against the system because they are worn
down and instead utilize the path of least resistance. That path tends to start to align itself with the judge
and prosecutor who move cases with negotiated pleas with little determination of guilt or innocence and no
investigation.
because they play favorites and they should not have the power to appoint, but should be done by an
administrator.
I do not know the answer since I don't have term assignments and don't know the outcomes for others that
are represented by them.
Sometimes they do, it depends on who is appointed to represent them.
The same reasons the gave rise to the Fair Defense Act only to a lesser degree are applicable to the term
assignment system.
They are heavily pressured to plead a volume of cases. They do not have time to perform adequate
investigation.
I think term assignments limit the amount of time counsel can work on each client's case
not applicable
I said they do.
B/c they call me asking to represent them on retainer, because their attorney won't call back or let them
know what's going on
It would be unnatural to think that a term lawyer is not influenced in some manner by the judge or ADA
when their livelihood depends on the job in the courtroom. The sooner the pleas are done, the sooner the
term lawyer gets to leave. There does not seem to be much personal attention when they have sometimes
double digit indigents in one morning.
Relatively short term assignments are okay, long term (monthly and yearly) necessarily overload an
individual attorney to the point that ineffective assistance becomes difficult to avoid.
Really I do not know but that answer was not available
I do not know anything about term assignments. I work capital murder cases and have no idea how the rest
of it is managed.
Attorneys are generally selected for their efficiency with moving the court's docket. This rarely translates
to quality representation.
Numbers. An attorney simply cannot provide quality representation in those numbers.

29

Some clients receive quality representation, but many do not because poor lawyers are permitted to receive
appointments
Lawyers become lazy and do not offer innovated approaches to their representation of indigent clients, they
just do what the court /judge likes or is used to!
I think that those lawyers who handle a high volume of cases do not have the time to be effective, to
communicate with their clients, to investigate the State's allegations and act mearly as a plea- mill.
Because all the same lawyers receive appointments by kissing up to the judge or court staff and they receive
appointments no matter what their performance as a lawyer is like. Most of those people have probably
never even tried a case to a jury, unless it was when they were a prosecutor, which is completely different
than trying a case as a defense attorney. If they were good lawyers then they would get retained by people
instead of being forced upon some poor individual stuck in jail. Half the time all they do is yell at their
clients and tell them they need to take the offer being given cause it's not going to get any better.
Too many cases, too many lawyers that are beholden to the court before their clients
I think it depends on the court. Some of the term attorneys are very good but others are just met them and
plea them. One particular court comes to mind where the contract attorneys are rude to the clients and
treat very badly.
Although many appointed lawyers do provide quality representation by virtue of the fact that they are good
lawyers, the appointment system in general is so corrupt that the majority of cases cannot receive individual
attention due to overworked, unmotivated, and underpaid counsel
Judges want their dockets moved, not cases tried.
I don't have first-hand knowledge. But the choices were limited to Yes or No and if I'm forced to guess, my
guess is no.
Attorneys that do not care about the clients.
It depends on the court--some judges will remove term assignment employees if cases are set for trial, and
this is unfair to a defendant
lawyers should be assigned individual cases so that they may investigate those cases and provide sufficient
representation. Also term assignments give rise to a lot of conflicts when co-defendants are in the same
court. Lawyers should not represent co-defendants.
Attorneys on term assignment can have too many cases and too much pressure to adequately investigate
and prepare cases, and advise clients.
In all term assignments, expediency requires the lawyers only do limited work and expend limited resources
per case.
11. On average, how often do you visit the jail each month?
Answer Options
0-1 times
2-4 times
5 times or greater

Response
Percent
20.4%
54.3%
25.3%
answered question
skipped question

Response
Count
33
88
41
162
14

12. Do you typically visit court-appointed clients in jail?

Answer Options
Yes
No

Response
Percent
77.2%
22.8%
answered question
skipped question

Response
Count
122
36
158
18

30

13. Have you had any of the following issues visiting jailed clients?
Answer Options
Parking
Client Access
Locating Client Facility
Secure Communication
Other
Please explain.

Response Percent

Response Count

52.9%
55.8%
6.7%
32.7%
25.0%

55
58
7
34
26
61

answered question
skipped question

104
72

Please explain.
I have not had any of those problems in visiting clients in jail. It can be a tedious situation, but I have
always gotten access.
The jailers are too slow and some are very rude. Most of the parking meters are bagged near the jail. Now
the parking area near Baker St. is gone for the construction of the new processing facility.
It is very difficult to 1. get into the jail and 2. to communicate privately with your client. Both parties are
yelling at each other thru a dirty glass. It is not a good environment to establish a trusting relationship. In
addition, it is impossible to maintain privacy.
Impossible to talk via secure collect phone calls and they are recorded. Not private.
Being able to show clients videos and digital evidence has been a problem.
Length of wait for prisoner to be pulled for visit
Waits to see clients are unreasonably long.
No
Bringing the laptop is often problematical.
I only represent juveniles in Juvenile Court in Harris County
No notaries or witnesses provided at the jail to obtain voluntary relinquishments.
Promptly bringing the clients to visit me in the attorney booth. I've waited up to an hour for a client to be
brought out.
Spend a lot of time waiting on clients to be brought to a visitation room. Also the new phones they have
installed do not always work, and I have to talk loudly through the plexi glass. If anyone else is in a
visitation room I can hear everything they say to their client as they can hear my conversation as well.
bringing my laptop in is a b****.
At the 1307 Baker Street facility, there have been no attorney rooms available, and the phones have been
out of order.
The Harris County Sheriffs on the "wings" are callous, unprofessional, consumed by personal affairs and
thereby distracted, and treat lawyers with scant more civility than their charges (the inmates). The delays
are ATROCIOUS.
Inefficient wait times
Long waits
Privacy and passing documents
Long wait
Excessive waiting time!
Have to wait a long time for them to be brought to the visitation room
None.
Wait times and no place in or out of court to show video

31

Regarding secure communication, I've been able to overhear the conversations between attorneys and their
clients in adjoining attorney visitation rooms, and I assume others have been able to hear me and mine.
"Other" is closely related; due to bad acoustics, background noise, and the attorney conference room set-up,
I often have trouble understanding my clients, and they occasionally have trouble hearing me, making it
necessary to yell to be understood; also, the physical setup makes it difficult to exchange, examine and mark
up documents (exhibits, sketches, maps, etc.) in conference with a client.
I make it a practice to see ALL clients in the jail. I often spend more time waiting for the client to be
produced then the actual visit.
Takes so long to get client
Long waits.
Depending on the jail, there can be a lengthy delay in bringing out the client.
Entry to the jail is very time consuming Due to security concerns
Parking cost money. Sheriff can't get clients to attorney booth in a timely manner. I often wait 45 minutes
or more for client to be brought to attorney booth.
It was not a problem before, but parking close to the jails is a problem now. I will only speak to clients in
person. I do not trust the telephone system being utilized at the jail - I do not want to risk having
confidential communication breached.
It's no one's fault but I hate getting stuck on the floor waiting for a lock down to end or for a booth to open.
Visiting through glass is always hard.
Sometimes you wait a long time to visit your client.
I am currently confined to a wheelchair or access is often times difficult though not impossible
There are sometimes delays in bringing clients to the attorney booths and occasionally they are unable to
bring them at all due to one reason or another.
Long time waiting for client.
Wait times can be lengthy.
The wait time is way too long.
Average wait time for a client is 10-15 minutes, and I make a point to visit clients during non-visiting hours
for the general public.
The wait time when visiting clients averages 10-15 minutes, which is ridiculous since I make a point to visit
my clients during non-visiting hours for the general public. I also have issues bringing in my cell phone or
iPad, which I use for calendaring purposes and to reference emails, even though the new sheriff's policy
allows defense attorneys to now bring these devices into the jail.
long wait
Ability to how video evidence in private manner
All of these.
I have heard voices and radio broadcasts coming from the wall of supposedly a secured Attorney/client
visitation designation.
The jail staff on the housing floors are often very slow to come to the window to get the visitation slip and
very slow to bring inmates to the visitation room. This translates to the County paying unnecessary out-ofcourt hours.
Sometimes I wait a very long time because I'm told the shift is changing.
I am reluctant to share privileged information with clients, especially at 1307 San Jacinto where we are
required to converse in an open room, that is designed for family visitations, over a telephone. It is also
frustrating trying to visit with clients at the other jails where there are long waits to have the client brought
over and it is often difficult to have to scream between the glass barrier in the attorney booths.
The jail staff is lazy and they love to take advantage of the microscopic amount of power they have been
forcing you to wait a half hour or more to see your client.
Unconscionable delays
Clients are not always brought to me when I go to the jail.
The jail often takes forever to bring out clients
Parking is a big issue in Harris County because of the limited number of spaces in close proximity to the
jail but also the cost is high.

32

It frequently takes up to an hour before a client is brought out for a meeting. Sometimes much longer.
Occasionally there are no attorney booths available.
n/a
takes unreasonable amount of time to get the inmates
Waiting in excess of 45 minutes for one client to be brought out at the 1200 Baker jail is common.
None
Length of waiting time for Clients to be brought to interview room.
Long waits at 1200 Baker. Waiting for a Client for 30-45 minutes is ridiculous and a waste of resources.
Inconsistent application of policies on what can be brought in.
14. Where do you typically first meet with a court-appointed client who has posted bond?
Response
Percent

Answer Options

Response
Count

24.7%
67.5%
7.8%
answered question
skipped question

Your office
The courtroom
Other

38
104
12
154
22

15. If you first meet court-appointed clients somewhere other than your office or the
courtroom, please explain.
Response
Count

Answer Options

14
answered question
skipped question

14
162

Response Text
Conference room at courthouse.
CORT HOUSE, EITHER THE CAFETERIA OR THE SEVENTH FLOOR IN ATTY ROOM
I usually meet with the client either at a neutral location or at the courthouse away from the courtroom. I
prefer to explain a few things before court.
not applicable
If they make bond they usually hire their own lawyers.
Juvenile detention
At a location that is most practical for both client and me.
I meet with them on the seventh floor of the courthouse in one of the offices.
I only take appointments in appeals; the clients are generally jailed.
My court appointed client's do not have a bond generally speaking so I first meet them in the holdover and
then jail.
In one of the private meeting rooms in the courtroom area
In court
I've never received any appointments
My clients are juveniles, the do not have bonds.

33

16. Please describe any differences between how you handle your retained and appointed
cases.
Answer Options

Response Count
119
answered question
skipped question
Response Text

119
57

None.
None
none
There is none.
no difference
My appointed cases tend to involves clients who are jailed. The only difference involves where we meet
and how we communicate.
They are handled completely differently. The main difference is that bond cases give you time to work
with the D, family, prosecutor and any witnesses to do a thorough investigation. Jail cases are always on a
clock where the D just wants to get out of custody at any cost.
None
no difference
none
None.
None. Have more resouces in ct appointed cases
none
I will go to the jail more often upon request if it's a retained client
No difference
Not a whole lot.
No difference. Stupid question
None
none
No difference
I may not see my appointed clients as often; however, I try my hardest to visit and update my appointed
clients as much as possible.
None!
None
Most defendants in appointed cases are in custody. While I meet with them at the jails regularly, it is
much more challenging to prepare their cases. Generally, I try to minimize the differences between
appointed and retained cases.
No differences.
No difference
All get 100% effort
None.
None
none
I normally have retained clients do more leg work than appointed ones. They are generally more capable
of same and have the means to assist in their own defense to a larger degree than appointed cases.
Conversely, I will normally secure a court appointed investigator for appointed cases at an earlier
juncture than for retained cases., for the same reasons.
None
Meetings with client on appointed case is in jail

34

I would require strict proof as to indigence for appointed cases that are on bond. I would also make it a
strict requirement that if a person is on bond and they are appointed a lawyer, they must pay back the
county for the appointment of counsel. Most defendants know that if they request a court appointed
lawyer, they will receive it. They only way to prevent someone from re-offending is to hit them where it
hurts, in the pocketbook.
Mome
None
None
None
appointed clients on bond less likely to phone, keep in contact.
handle the same way
None
Retained clients call and come to office for meetings more. More involved in their cases.
None
Other than the fact that I first meet them in court, none.
no substantive difference
None
None. Absolutely none.
No difference
no difference
None
No difference except that appointed cases are usually assigned in the court at the appearance so there is
no opportunity to meet the client before court
None, excepting that appointed clients are more likely to be jailed, making meeting with them and
information exchange more problematic.
None. Appointed clients are much more difficult to work with because they believe all appointed lawyers
are not as good as retained lawyers or that they are working with the State to convict them. They tend to
be more disrespectful and hostile and distrustful of appointed lawyers. For these reasons I work very hard
to obtain the best outcome for my appointed clients as I do for my retained clients.
No difference
Absolutely none.
no difference
Try not to have any differences
None
None
After 18 years of private practice, I am no longer accepting retained cases. I have devoted the last 3 years
to the exclusive representation of my indigent clients. The difference I see is there was a lot more time to
communicate with my retained clients beofore setting foot in court. Now, I meet them for the first time n
court.
None
They are handled the same.
None
None
Investigation funds are limited.
Absolutely no difference.
appointed cases are typically in jail and cannot bond out.
Securing payment
I take great pride in treating them exactly the same perhaps more family contact with those in jail
None
None
None.
N/A

35

I am often able to dispose of the appointed cases more quickly since payment plans are never an issue.
Retained typically have no record or less of a record and are more likely to be eligible for probation.
no differently
None
The only difference is how I receive the client which dictates how I first meet with them.
Don't currently handle retained cases. For 9 years, I handled both court appointed and primarily retained
cases. I can't think of a tangible difference in the representation.
I have no retained clients.
For retained clients, I go to their court before court-appointed clients.
For retained clients, I make my appearance to their court room first, and then I take care of my court
appointed clients. This is the main difference in the way I handle those cases.
N/A
none
None
None. However appointed cases usually bond out so they are more willing to fight the case versus
appointed cases that are typically still in jail, unable to bond out, so they just want time to served to go
home. Also, many of the appointed cases have priors so the court will not grant PR bonds so they my
clients are less inclined to fight and just want to go home.
no difference
None.
n/a
I handle them the same
None
None whatsoever, other than financial arrangements.
Haven't had any appointed, so n/a
not applicable
there are none accept clearly access to client is much easier.
Only difference is that if the client is in jail and not out on bond is that if we have to meet before a court
setting, I visit the client at the jail, this is so always before trial when preparing for trial. My retained
cases or appointed clients who are on bond meet with me at my office.
no difference
More frequent communication via telephone and in person with retained clients. I write my court
appointed clients and visit them as needed.
There is not a difference.
Never received any appointments
None except making sure the retained pays
None
There is no difference, other than I have phone access to bonded clients that I do not have with appointed
defendants.
Retained clients call more and come to office to meet more
None
n/a
methods of communicating with clients
n/a
I don't have retained cases.
No difference.
n\a
Not applicable at this time. I have no retained cases.
I see jailed clients more often. I usually meet with bond clients on court dates only.
All appointed work

36

All of my cases are appointed. When i was in private practice, i would often have the opportunity to meet
with a client prior to going to court. I often receive court appointments now only a short time before the
court date. I even get appointed to clients on the day they have court. Makes meeting clients prior to court
impossible.
Not applicable.
None
Not applicable. I have no retained clients.
N/A
17. How do you advise clients of possible collateral consequences with regard to immigration
(Padilla issues)?
Answer Options
Seek Opinion from
Outside Counsel
Provide Standard
Admonishment
Form
Advise as a Result
of Personal Legal
Research
Other
Other (please specify)

Response Percent

Response Count

77.2%

112

57.9%

84

53.1%

77

11.7%

17
28

answered question
skipped question

145
31

Other (please specify)

not applicable
In felony cases I tell the client that if convicted he or she will be deported
I always refer to an immigration attorney for consultation or consult myself with a colleague who
specializes in immigration.
All of these.
Always tell them to seek the advise of immigration atty. I know the offenses which trigger deportation but
always advise them to talk to atty that specialize in immigration
If not a citizen, I tell them to expect deportation and an inability to return because immigration laws can
change at any time.
A combination of the above depending on the charge and the defendant's status.
I advise them to also seek counsel from an immigration attorney
I don't take cases cases with immigration implications.
I tell them what the Supreme Court said to say
Do additional research.
p.d.'s office
Advise generally as to the law, then, if issue, advise to see immigration expert.
Not Applicable
I also advise clients to seek the advice of an immigration specialist.
Depends on the type of case and their status
In addition, I will often either seek an opinion from an immigration expert or give referrals to the client.
I make a point to research the issue the client has questions about and consult immigration lawyers when
possible for guidance.
I also tell them that any criminal conviction could have negative consequences, unless they are citizens.
The best they can hope for is that a conviction will have no impact, but depending on the crime it will
some impact on their immigration status so it is very important that they consider fighting the case.
All of these.

37

depending on crime and time here legally.

Have them seek outside counsel after I tell them certain pleas will end in their deportation or denial of
entry back into the US. I have on occasion sought the advice of outside counsel when I was unsure of the
likelihood of deportation
Depends on the case.
I will at times seek the opinion of an immigration attorney on certain issues that I am not confortable
with.
tell client I am not immigration lawyer
I send many clients a list of Unseen Consequences relevant to their charge, found in the TCDLA book,
"Texas Punishment".
Experts in the PDO
Not applicable to appellate practice.
18. In your opinion, what obstacles do defendants face in successfully completing a term of
probation in misdemeanor cases?
Answer Options
Length of Term
Fees
Failed Drug/Alcohol
Test
Missed Meeting with
Probation
Other
Other (please specify)

Response Percent

Response Count

24.4%
56.1%

30
69

69.9%

86

55.3%

68

33.3%

41
57

answered question
skipped question

123
53

Other (please specify)

not applicable
Having to comply with conditions that have nothing to do with the underlying offense and high fees.
They are not well-equipped to handle probation and are given very little guidance to be successful. Many
of the conditions including the length, fees and location are extremely difficult for indigent defendants
without adequate support systems in place.
Most have transportation issues
I don't do misdemeanors
Do not do enough cases to form an opinion
New case
All of the above/none of the above. Economics is the biggest obstacle
I only represent juveniles in Juvenile Courts in Harris County, Texas
Too many requirements. And it's indigent has to work but they can't work if they're doing every part of
their probation.
too many additional considerations that interfere with 40 hour work
Overbearing and expensive conditions. In some instances harder than Felony probation so insofar as
downright abusive bond conditions and the like. A cottage industry.
New offenses
most of my motions to revoke are due to defendant's picking up new law violations
intolerant judges and lack of drug rehab programs
transportation
transportation to probation related requirements
Probation officers have too many cases
failed to attend school (juveniles)

38

New cases.
lack of motivation
I don't know.
I do not handle appointed misd. cases.
lack of understanding of conditions
Not Applicable
There are way too many reasons why clients do not successfully complete probation. Including they do not
make it the most important thing in their life and make bad choices in the process
Transportation to prob officer
Generally speaking these are young folks that have a hard time with structure. POs need to be a little
more tolerant. Who really cares what a misdemeanor probationer does or doesn't do?
All of the above.
Additional referral/charges
driving to and from
transportation, interfering with job hours
So many meetings for probation, classes, community service, random drug tests that it interferes with
their job. Also, some have unreliable transportation.
Jail time as a condition causes loss of jobs.
The costs for indigent defendants are overwhelming for probation, and it is difficult for them to be
successful when everything requires payment of money from completion of classes to taking a drug test.
Not all judges equally committed to keeping a person on probation
transportation issues
To many requirements for low level offenses, I sometimes feel that probation is designed to make them fail
and prosecutors offer probation when they know the case is weak.
Who they are assigned to as a probation officer also greatly affects their ability to successfully complete
probation
Transportation and conflicts with work schedules
All of the above.
community service
pick up a new case
I think many clients need mental health assessments and treatment.
System is designed to extract fees and make them fail
Inability to get community service hours completed because the location does not have enough work for
the probationer
Transportation, license often suspended
transportation issues.
Probation is rarely chosen, preferring time served
I don't have misdemeanor cases.
Don't handle misd. cases
just set up to fail people; really not in business of helping people with problems and issues around poverty
I don't know. I do not handle misdemeanor cases.
Not applicable to me
Transportation can often be an issue. Clients often do not have the funds for food much less
transportation costs.
For indigent clients, transportation is a common problem.
New offense

39

19. In your opinion, what obstacles do defendants face in successfully completing a term of
probation in felony cases?
Answer Options
Length of Term
Fees
Failed Drug/Alcohol
Test
Missed Meeting with
Probation
Other
Other (please specify)

Response Percent

Response Count

55.1%
61.0%

75
83

77.9%

106

70.6%

96

27.9%

38
56

answered question
skipped question

136
40

Other (please specify)

Generally, probations are too onerous. Many probationers have trouble with transportation, missing work,
etc. . . Also, probation officers are often difficult to get a hold of for a probationer to reach if there is a
problem.
New law violation
Clients are often faced with the choice between work and an appointment. I am often told that the officers
will tell the client that they will be arrested the next tine they show. At that point, the client gives up and
doesn't show for further appointments.
Same as above. Modifications always include extending period of probation which leaves little incentive to
complete program successfully.
Transportation and inability to find work
employment opportunites are very limited for probationers. no one seems to understand that simple fact.
New case
Same answer as question 15
I only represent juveniles in Juvenile Courts in Harris County, Texas
transportation bad attitude lazy
An indigent needs to work. It is almost impossible to work full-time if you want to successfully complete all
the terms of probation.
same as above
community service
Employability (lack thereof) for many of them
New offenses
Same as above, also lack of mental health treatment
transportation and employment
Probation officers have too many cases
failed to attend school (juveniles)
New cases.
lack of motivation
They face trying to find a job and place to live.
Defendants face many obstacles, not the least of which are their own poor judgment and decision-making
skills. However, my experience is that most probation officers are not interested in helping defendants
succeed and are quick to recommend revocation. Defendants often do not have reliable transportation or
any transportation all, they have difficulty finding employment due to their criminal histories, classes
required during probation often conflict with defendants' work schedules and they often have to make a
decision between keeping their jobs or going to a class or meeting. Drug testing is and has been questionable
in Harris County and has caused many defendants to get revoked. Probation is not designed for defendants
to succeed.

40

I would like to see a probation system that does not overload the client with duties. This, added on to the
expectation that they get jobs and take care of their families makes it much more difficult for a successfull
completion. Many of the programs added on are not worth the tax dollars that it costs. For example, antitheft (or equivalent) classes. Don't hit your wife classes. These types of classes along with community
service set the client up to fail.
lack of understanding of conditions
Not Applicable
See number 14
These are the ones that need more help. They are the ones we have a chance to save. Instead they wind up
with a footprint of the government on their back side. In the old days jail therapy was used to get their
attention: 30 days the first time; 45 or 60 days the 2d time. Usually we didn't get serious about prison until
the 3d or 4th time. I wish we would return to that. It's cumbersome but I think it serves society better.
All of the above.
Trouble completing lock down programs.
So many meetings for probation, classes, community service, random drug tests that it interferes with their
job. Also, some have unreliable transportation.
Same as above.
Not all judges equally committed to keeping a person on probation
transportation issues
new law violations
Depending on the felony, I think some of the requirements are to stringent and overall they are designed
for clients to fail.
Who they are assigned to as a probation officer also greatly affects their ability to successfully complete
probation
Transportation and conflicts with work schedules
All of the above.
lack of empathy in the probation dept
pick up a new case
Same as above regarding so many defendant's with little resources and for those with mental health issues
or drug dependancy issues.
System is designed to extract fees and make them fail
Same as for misdemeanor answer above
All of the above. There seems to be an attitude that probation comes before everything else. Yet they are
expected to work but have problems with work schedules that allow for community service and probation
meetings
Transportation
transportation
Poverty. New law violations.
same as above: they want them to fail
not following rules of probation
picking up new charges.
Lack of skill set to complete probation in the first place.
Transportation can often be an issue. Clients often do not have the funds for food much less transportation
costs.
Programs that are supposed to help them - like YMAC or WHO - that may require certain things upon
release. Clients tend to not follow up well with those conditions (to live in a halfway house) or the program
did not help them control their substance abuse issues.
For indigent clients, transportation is a common problem.
New offense

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20. How many times did you request an investigator in a misdemeanor case in the last year?
Response
Percent

Answer Options

Response
Count

20.3%
59.4%
3.5%
16.8%
answered question
skipped question

N/A-Public Defender
0
1
2 or more

29
85
5
24
143
33

21. If any of your requests were not granted, please explain why not.
Response
Count

Answer Options

11
answered question
skipped question

11
165

Response Text
never turned down
I don't do misd appts
Judge refused
No
I do not recall.
NA
All were granted.
n/a
Requests are granted but sometimes limited too much in amount.
N/A
N/A
22. How many times did you request an investigator in a felony case in the last year?
Answer Options
N/A-Public Defender
0
1-4
5 or more

Response
Percent
18.2%
20.9%
18.2%
42.6%
answered question
skipped question

Response
Count
27
31
27
63
148
28

42

23. If any of your requests were not granted, please explain why not.
Response
Count

Answer Options

27
answered question
skipped question

27
149

Response Text
n/a
not applicable
Judge wanted to wait until we determined it was absolutely necessary. In the mean time, there was an
unnecessary delay and my client was the victim of a homicide.
NA
never denied an investigator
All granted
All requests granted
never rejected
All were granted
n/a
All granted
They were granted
Answer was -0- for last year but historically requests for investigators never denied.
all of my investigator requests were granted, experts not so much
All were granted.
All were granted.
All were granted
Money! TIDC should send 10 or 20 million dollars to Harris County for investigators.
All of my requests were granted.
All were granted
All were granted.
n/a
n/a
None
courts unwilling to pay for adequate investigative services
N/A
N/A
25. If you answered no, please explain why you think those requests were denied.
Response
Count

Answer Options

12
answered question
skipped question

12
164

Response Text
n/a
No requests were denied
I don't do felony appointments as I refuse to play the game. Misdemeanors are term appointments and
only done for one or two courts per year as most HARRIS county Courts do not appoint me due to prior
litigation.

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Some judges pay too liitle. Hard to find good investigators within financial constraints
N/a
Judges do not want to spend the money on investigators and think lawyers should do both always
Not Applicable
NA
I answered that way because I have not requested additional funds.
Not applicable
N/A
N/A
26. Have you represented clients with mental illness in Harris County?
Answer Options
Yes
No

Response
Percent
93.2%
6.8%
answered question
skipped question

Response
Count
136
10
146
30

27. Are outpatient services generally available for clients with mental illness (i.e., services for
treatment outside of the jail)?
Answer Options
Yes
No

Response
Percent
48.1%
51.9%
answered question
skipped question

Response
Count
63
68
131
45

28. Please describe what outpatient services are available to clients and how you utilize them.
Response
Count

Answer Options

46
answered question
skipped question

46
130

Response Text
I often recommend clients who are on bond to seek services at MHMRA in HArris County.
Substance abuse counseling; assistance in obtaining medications for mental health issues; by referring
client.
Ask assistance from probation officers
MHMRA (will contact them when need arises)
They are handled by the probation dept. I hardly handle those cases.
Drug counseling psychological counseling
I only represent juveniles in Juvenile Courts in Harris County, Texas but we have MHMRA and
outpatient services for juveniles.
Referral
MHMRA. Refer client to center for services.
fact
Mhmr
problem is clients don't have resources, time, transportation to use services available.

44

Peden
Through mental health court
I consult with the CLO and PD's office on a case by case basis
Probation department outpatient services
Mhmra
outpatient services are directly related to whether the client has insurance and/or ability to pay for the
services. However, I have had assistance from MHMRA.
I only represent juveniles so there are services which my client and family use for counseling.
MHMRA
None of my mentally ill patients in the past five years made bond, so they were unable to utilize
outpatient services during the time in which I represented them.
Harris County MHMRA.
MHMRA, Harris County Jail Diversion Program, Harris County has a list of treatment centers for drug,
alcohol, and mental health treatment. Most clients are anxious to take advantage of these services.
MHMRA provides services
Mhmra
Manta counseling. VA counselors
Most are INpatient, proed by HC.
They can be evaluated while on bond but the process takes longer. Mental Health Court and the Mental
Health Caseload offer outpatient treatment as well.
I have not utilized outpatient services for clients, but I know they are available.
MHMRA /not great
Mhmra,
Referral to MHMRA. Referral to private practice
Make a phone call or give the phone number to mental health client and or his/her family. Whether they
follow up with calling them is unknown
MHMRA
MHMRA services are the most user friendly
Contact MHMR and arrange an appointment for client at their facility
MHMRA
Therapists
Evaluations and follow ups...though scheduling is generally several months in the future and this has a
negative impact on docket scheduling
juvenile probation helps coordinate services
MHMRA has FACT team; there's Healthcare for the Homeless; there's the 1185 program; there's the
Felony Mental Health Court with links to various resources.
MHMRA is used to continue on medications.
can refer clients to outpatient treatment for drug abuse
MHMRA and other facilities
When a client gets on probation, counseling and outpatient services are generally available through the
probation department.
MHMRA. Generally I only make Clients aware of help through MHMRA.

45

29. Have you been successful in securing personal recognizance bonds for jailed clients with
mental illness?
Answer Options
Yes
No

Response
Percent
30.2%
69.8%
answered question
skipped question

Response
Count
35
81
116
60

30. If you sought personal recognizance bonds for your clients with mental illness, please
explain why you think the court is or is not granting them.
Response
Count

Answer Options

73
answered question
skipped question

73
103

Response Text
Courts do not want to deviate from the bond scheduling order.
n/a
not applicable
Attorneys aren't asking for them. Sometimes the clients aren't stable enough at the initial interview to
provide good reference information to the interviewer or their attorney.
The court was not assured that the client would seek treatment on the outside and did not want to take the
risk.
It is generally believed that indigent defendants without support are safer in jail than on the street or out
in public without assistance. Sadly they are left in jail because of safety concerns.
Courts are reluctant to grant them because they feel that if on bond, they will not make appointments with
doctors.
They will have problems locating the defendant for future court appearances. The client is often noncompliant with medication.
Is very case dependant, I will not ask if the client is not a good candidate with appropriate support.
Concers for safety without treatment
courts in my county, Harris, very very rarely grant any pr bonds and especially not in cases involving clients
with mental health issues. there are no out of custody mental health services available for clients on bond
Must protect the public
Stupid question. Criteria for granting PR bonds is saying
I only represent juveniles in Juvenile Courts in Harris County, Texas so that is not applicable to me.
Normal course of business
It seems that judges perceive there is a lack of resources and supervision for such defendants.
I work with j. Ellis in the CR docket
Family support and lack of the degree of culpability that unchallenged defendants have
Don't know
The courts have a concern that releasing mentally ill folks without a plan for housing and continuity of care
is dangerous for the client
criminal history, perception of need to protect community
This line of questioning is not clear. "Clients with mental illness" can mean people that have a condition
and are stable on medication and those that are not. I not remember a request for PR bond in the last 5
years denied for mental illness, just prior and/or facts of the offense.
N/A
Usually too many priors no verifiable address or contacts
Prior record

46

I haven't had to for clients with mental illness

not applicable
Haven't.
They don't think they will come back or get treatment
I don't know. My cases are usually very serious felony or capital cases and mental health is one of many
issues
Seems courts are too afraid of risk in allowing almost anyone with a felony a PR bond
The courts consider the offense and whether a PR bond is appropriate. In my experience, Harris County
judges grant PR bonds infrequently.
I have not sought such a bond. The majority of those who need appointed counsel who suffor from mental
illness have no where else to go. That being said, after 17 years as a prosecutor and now as a defense
attorney I have never heard of anyone asking for a PR bond due to mental illness.
Clients criminal history and type of charge
Many of my clients are alleged probation violators. They usually come in with no bond status and when I
get bond set, it is very high.
No criminal history, no money, family support
Not Applicable
Fear of not returning to court
Violent criminal history.
Risk aversion and protest from prosecution
Have not asked often because previous record often makes it inappropriate when I have asked it has been
granted
Judge is fearful of violence.
Fear that they won't receive the treatment they receive in the jail.
For many mentally ill clients, pretrial services is unable to verify the information provided by the defendant.
Generally, I deal with appeal/post-conviction cases. N/A
prior criminal history
These bonds are granted when there is an agreement for services and a place for them to reside. I have
found that these bonds are not granted when offended cannot give us any references and we cannot get
them to agree to go to a location for more services
The court is concerned that my client will not come back to court and will get out of jail and disappear. If I
have family support in court, it will not be granted.
Is very case dependant, I will not ask if the client is not a good candidate with appropriate support.
May not grant based on lack of references or criminal history
Prior criminal history or lack of local references
Fear
I don't think the judiciary views mental illness as a reason for PR bonds. I think most judges feel such
illnesses are a good reason to keep defendants in jail where, the judges believe, the defendant will have
better access to treatment.
Expectation client won't come to court.
I do not see any difference between a client with or without a mental illness. If the client meets the criteria
they will get a p.r. bond. The major problem is that most clients do not have any contact information to
verify their information.
concern for the safety of the community
Many of those clients have extensive criminal histories.
Most people in general do not get a PR bond
Politics, incredible fear of granting PR bond and defendnt committing serious offense while out on that bond
They prefer keeping the client in jail rather than letting them out...they are more concerned with any
possible negative media from something that might happen if the defendant is out on bond.
The judges feel that the jail is the mental health system, and they are right
Have had them granted by judges who are understanding of mental illness
Not applicable

47

It's rare, but the court has given them on some cases. I think the judge is afraid a defendant will commit a
new offense while on bond.
I think that Judges generally feel that they are more likely to get evaluated and helped if they remain in
the system. A compelling case would have to be made that the client's family will seek help and ensure
client would make court dates and get help.
Nature of crime/homeless issues
Fear of reprisal at election time
usually they have previous criminal cases
Too many priors
Belief that Client will not return to court based on mental illness.
N/A
Judges would rather put defendants in jail than give bonds. It's the habit in Harris County, and the false
claims of "public" or "personal" safety are always used.
They will grant them if they are stable and there is a place for them to go.
31. Do you feel that adequate training for representing clients with mental illness is readily
available?
Answer Options
Yes
No

Response Percent

Response Count

55.8%
44.2%
answered question
skipped question

72
57
129
47

32. Please explain why you think training is or is not adequate.

Answer Options

Response Count
76
answered question
skipped question

76
100

Response Text
There should be more online resources available. Currently, there is yearly training, but if you miss the
training, you can't find it elsewhere.
Its is not readily available or could be more so.
The training is ok, but not enough attorneys participate.
There are several sources available to consult and the mental health court staff especially Pete Zama are
particularly helpful
Many lawyers do not know the signs to look for, or simply ignore them. This is especially true in
misdemeanor cases where the ADAs will offer a very low offer to get the conviction. At that point, the client
will take the offer so as not to stay in custody.
There is no training for mental assistance unless sought out by attorneys who specialize in these clients.
one seminar to qualify for appointments is not enough really and is not in depth.
I feel unequiooed to handle these issues
training is not the problem. Mental health resources for the Defendant is the problem.
mental health court is available
Training will not help, you can either do it or not.
Not enough free seminars and frequency of availability
There are many CLE programs in this area and the small group of lawyers that practice in the Harris
County Mental Health Court are always available for consultation.

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The Mental Health Court is an available option although they have strict rules regarding qualifications for
being admitted into Mental Health Court
Plenty of resources out there.
I only represent juveniles in Juvenile Courts in Harris County, Texas and the HBA Juvenile Law Section
covers Mental Health Issues in Juvenile Courts at our annual Juvenile Law Conference each year in
Houston each September.
It simply isn't. These cases are complicated, and involve an intersection of legal and medical/social issues
that very few CLEs address.
Specialized courts
it is not required and should be
More CLE on the topic and the resources available should be publicized at least to the bar
It is out there, but it is not standard for every criminal CLE. It should be. All of our clients have issues,
from retardation to traumatic brain injury to mental illness such as bi-polar disorder.
the need is more services for mentally ill.
The ability to consult the PD's office or hand the case over if it is too complicated makes moot the issue of
adequate training, in my opinion.
I don't know of any.
Cle is a offered every year regarding mental health
We have the public defender's office available for any all assistance as needed.
Courses concerning these types of clients are not readily available
There is not enough information or training for anyone representing clients with mental illness. Lack of
funds.
the question didn't allow for a not sure answer and "no" seemed more accurate. however there are people
staffed to help I'm just not sure with the different types of mental disorders and the large numbers of people
that have mental disorders that "yes" wouldn't also be correct. my observations are that the numbers are
growing at exponential rates and that the system in Harris County is continuing to be trying to catch up to
the needs of the mentally ill.
Said yes.
Constant CLEs available
several cles are offered as well as training locally
Rarely offered and if offered it is only once a year which may not be convenient time
I've done a couple of good CLE programs, and there's lots of written material available for self-study.
The courses are few and far between.
The mental health court as well as the ADA's who work in the mental health division at the DA's office are
always available to answer/help with any issue that arises. I would like to see them loosen the standards
that are currently in place for those eligible for the mental health court. I have had several turned down
due to these limitations who I believe would have been perfect for the program.
There are available cle courses for attorneys to attend
The public Defender's Office provided good training through their in-house Dr. Floyd Jennings which I
attended and passed the exam.
Police officers should not be arresting people with clear mental health issues for misdemeanors. There
needs to be some other mechanism readily available to police where safety of the citizens as well as accused
well being is considered
Not Applicable
Haven't seen any offered.
Can be found but you have to seek it out pretty vigorously
There doesn't seem to be any.
NONE is available.
Have not been made aware of availability of training.
The public defender's office provides adequate training for non-PDO attorneys.
I attended a CLE this past year regarding representation of mentally ill clients provided by the public
defender's office.

49

I don't think there is a strong enough effort to educate/include/seek probate attorney

assistance/appointments in serious mental health cases
CLE offered
I feel that I could use more in-depth understanding of how to handle and the escalate the negotiations with
these defendants I do not have a background for this kind of consultation
There are many experienced lawyers to seek advice from on the issue
Mental health training is limited to CLEs which is completely voluntary. So the knowledge is there, but not
everyone chooses to go out and get it.
the harris county public defenders' office is available for consult
Public Defenders Office has resources, but private practice attorneys do not
We seem to do our part in the courts with addressing mental health. Outside of the courts is where the
majority of the problems are. The courts cannot fix mental health problems. Its bigger than criminal justice
We need more training regarding services available.
SSA and MHMRA step in well
In many cases it is obvious when a client has a mental issue, but this is not always ture. However there
are flags that are often times raised that alert us to look for certain things with clients who have had prior
contact with MHMR. It might be more difficult for some who have had limited experience or contact with
clients with mental issues. I know that the county has provided seminars dealing with representing clients
with mental issues which have provided a good insight as to what to look for.
As a public defender, we have lots of in house training available.
It is available by seeking the proper resources within the county psychiatric structure
I would welcome more training. I handle a lot of these types of cases and have had to teach myself how to
get my client's evaluated. I am not impressed with the current medical staff at the HCJ as far as their
responsiveness to my emails regarding my client's with mental health issues. It is a shame that they let go
of Dr. Seale. He was always very helpful and responsive. Very recently, my emails and calls regarind a
suicidal client in the HCJ were ignored.
There is minimal training and the mentally ill are not high on the priority list!
Not widely understood by counsel yet without having personal experience.
Not offered frequent enough
Pd office handles mental illness cases
there is no training
Our office put on some good CLEs, and there are others. There's always room for more. Bring it.
I can't think of anything offhand being offered.
PD's office has mental health division with knowledgeable people.
Is there any real formal training?
not that many available
There should be more specialized training available. Most lawyers are not properly trained to handle mental
health issues in cases. Same goes for Judges and prosecutors.
The permutations are too many, and the courts are not interested in providing guidance.
It's a system that prefers known faces who are there regularly.
Outside the PD's office, I am unaware that there is any training available.
The PDO provides training and assistance

50

33. Please share with us any additional thoughts you have on taking criminal defense
appointments in Harris County.
Response
Count

Answer Options

64
answered question
skipped question

64
112

Response Text
The compensation is frankly inadequate. Both that and the payment regulations should be reviewed and
revised from the ground up.
I think the process works very well for the Juvenile Respondents and their parents.
more funds need to be allotted for mental illness to cut down on the recidivism rate and therefore spending
more indigent funds on repeat individuals
They need yo increase the pay and make sure attorneys get paid quicker.
Payment is sub par and that is a huge issue!
The misd system is completely broken. More PR bonds need to be approved so that the attny has more time
to properly investigate the case. Also, only allowing payment for two cases outside of the term assignment
is deplorable.
The appointment system is flawed because it depends on a system that is not functioning consistently or
fairly. Good lawyers are pushed too far and bad lawyers are given too many cases. There is no accountability
for anyone in the system including the judges who appoint lawyers, the lawyers who take cases but do
nothing, and the lawyers who take too many cases and do nothing. The system is also set up so that good
lawyers cannot join the group of lawyers who are overworked because of unnecessary hurdles like 2 month
appointments that would not permit an attorney with a retained practice to do appointments in addition to
a regular practice.
political game and should not be appointed by the Judge of the particular court
The sheer number can be overwhelming. I at times have a hard time balancing the work and my private
paying clients
not a perfect system but works well most of the time.
Compensation too low for complexity snd difficulty if cases and clients. Have to almost compromise attorney
client privilege to request higher oay
If the judges keep cutting the pay for appointed cases, I will soon stop taking them. The majority of our
elected judges went straight from the DA's office onto the bench without ever trying to run the business side
of a law office. Some of them seem oblivious to the cost involved just to buy paper. The attitude is they will
continue to pay as little as possible because there will always be lawyers out there willing to work for very
low wages. The result will be many lawyers with pride in what they do will simply stop taking these cases
and others will just retire. Result: a lot of inexperienced lawyers trying murder cases.
The system for appointing attorneys should be changed where an attorney's name does not drop from the
list just because he or she is not selected on any given day. It should rollover until he or she is selected.
Furthermore the amount of fees granted to appointed attorneys has not changed in at least the last ten
years although every other agency or department connected to the criminal justice system has been given
pay increases. The last change that appointed attorneys had in pay was a decrease in the amount we were
paid on cases other than capital murder cases.
Attorneys fees are very low. Yet we try very hard to give the best representation
Sometimes, innocent people go to prison. Puts a knot in my chest.

51

Think would be helpful if your organization consulted with court-appointed counsel before you impose
changes. Since court-appointed attorneys still do the bulk of indigent defense work. It seems a reasonable
that you would talk to this group of fine dedicated lawyers. You initiated a new voucher system before all
the problems were worked out in the system. Then when the system failed, your response is oh well. No
effort was made to make sure that the court-appointed attorneys were compensated within a reasonable
time. No explanation was given to the court-appointed attorneys as to why the system has failed to
compensate them for four weeks of work. Instead of always looking for a fix for something that's not broken.
Maybe you should consult with the lawyers in the trenches to help you make changes, which, which affects
them.
I only represent juveniles in Juvenile Courts in Harris County, Texas so I cannot address the issues in the
Criminal Courts.
Appointed lawyers can often do a better job than the public defenders, and at a cost-savings to the County.
They (we) deserve a rais commensurate with the raises which Judges have enjoyed since 1990. We deserve
health care benefits and courthouse badges as well.
Hourly Rates are too low for appeals and more serious cases
The pay should be hourly without a presumptive cap. The pay is too low, and the caseloads too high. The
private defender system is a problem as there is little quality control.
Wish it was easier to get into the jail, especially if we have a court access badge, after passing criminal
background check. Also, wish easier to get a computer into jail to effectively review a case with client,
without having to get a court order to do so.
These questions are cannot begin to adequately encompass what we encounter on a day to day bases. To be
blunt, the questions are stupid.
I think the daily non term appointment rates should be higher for Spanish certified attorneys. Let's say
75.00 instead of 50.00.
I think incarcerating a human isn't going to make the human better. if we decide to be proactive in making
our lives better we go to the park jog exercise eat healthy foods read avoid toxic people all the opposite of
sitting in a cell with sick. seems like there are better ways to help humans in need and the appointed clients
often are in need of medical, dental, psychoatric, financial kinds crises. sometimes representing appointed
clients is like being a social worker in the context of even if you win their legal issues they still are in lifestyle
struggle.
I only represent juvenile clients. I believe that the attorneys appointed have the training needed to
represent their juvenile clients.
None.
The only good thing term appts do is like a triage for an emergency room when they first come in and many
clients do want to work out their cases and the evidence is there to do so. An attorney with experience knows
the difference. However, often the courts only use certain attorneys as favorites and many courts never
appoint anyone who doesn't give them money for election time and so term apts is a system that becomes
abused. Also inadequate funding is provided for investigators and experts. It is hard to find experts who
will work for court appted rates now and the way Harris County pays and much evidence is now provided
in a digital format and there is no secure place provided to show clients these videos. Also, the jails lack
safe parking spaces and the attorneys at certain hours are treated like dirt at the jail and the parole board
takes up all of the booths during the day so we don't have enough booths to see our clients at the jail and at
night when visitors are present, you can't hear your clients in the booth. The parking lots are dangerous
too and poorly lit.
There are clearly good lawyers and bad. There are many more good and even great lawyers than not but
the few give the system a bad rap
I am not a big proponent of lawyer for the week or month. It varies with the courts. It works in 209th. Not
sure about the other situations. I am told it leads to lots of pleas down in the misdemeanor courts. The
criminal justice system must have warriors in the trenches in order to work effectively. Young lawyers need
to be in trial in misdemeanor courts on something other than DWIs. We have to train young lawyers on how
to speak to juries, how to examine witnesses and etc. They should not be learning those lessons in felony
cases.

52

I have been a prosecutor or defense attorney since 1986. I have committed myself to representing indigent
clients for the last three years. I like what I am doing and get a lot of satisfaction from representing these
clients. I am amazed at the number of clients I have represented who have mental health issues - although
only a few have been adjudged incompetent. on a side note, the defense bar has become much better at doing
its job in the last 30 years. I attribute this to several factors: (1) the defense bar has strong support through
various defense organizations such as HCCLA and TCDLA; (2) laws have evolved that require prosecutors
to disclose more information; and (3) significant changes in the law in 1994 help us in dealing with the least
serious felonies. All this levels the playing field more.
The system is rife with cronyism and favoritism. Some of us are all but shut out of work while the chosen
few attorneys get all the work they want.
One of my biggest concerns as a prosecutor was that attorneys were not going to the jail to visit their clients.
It's not fun but it needs to be done at least once (or more depending on how long the case takes to resolve).
I would like to see the HCSO streamline our visits so they are less time consuming. I have waited for a
client for over 45 minutes only to have to leave due to other appointments without ever seeing the client. In
addition, the pay for felony cases at the S.J. and 3rd degree level is abysmal. Driving to the jail, paying for
parking, and then spending an hour with your client can be financially challenging.
Overall, as a new court appointed attorney, I am impressed with the quality of work I see in the majority of
the attorneys I see.
The core problem as an appellate attorney is how to deal with a new trial motion as a new attorney who
knows nothing of what happened during the trial.
Police are abusing the law of criminal trespass to deal with homelessness and mental health issues. Jail is
not helping these part of Harris county citizens.
A lawyer who is qualified to take first chair capital murder cases but not passed a test is deemed "not
qualified" to take misdemeanor or felony appointments. Ridiculous.
This survey is stupid! You cannot get a fair or accurate idea of what is going on with simplistic questions
like this. Don't you think your information ought to be more in depth than something you got from
SurveyMonkey?
Would like to see a more uniform policy for judges to decide who qualifies for court appointed lawyer. Some
judges grant court appointments very liberally, while others are very conservative.
The day rate pay is not enough for the amount of time and effort that you put forth to represent these
clients. Often times you end up spending a lot of out of court hours explaining to the situation that your
client is in to concerned family members of the defendant. Many judges do not pay for out of court hours.
This leaves an attorney with only $50 per reset after the initial day rate of $250, which you can have up to
5 clients which you represent in that day.
Need more training on all of the available programs and resources Harris County offers for clients.
I think the process is fair, and provides excellent representation for defendants and juvenile respondents.
Seen and done it in other counties as well Harris County is clearly the most professional and most concerned
with getting it right
The pay is low. We may not get paid due to client limitations. It is difficult to manage. So far the new billing
system has created a huge backlog in payments and some are related to trials...trials create a loss of income.
The system cannot begin to have even the appearance of propriety until you remove the ability to appoint
counsel from the judges or judges' staff, and move to an independent appointed counsel system.
I believe the rate for investigators should be increased because there are so few investigators willing to work
for court-appointed rates. I also feel that more bond clients should be required to make more attempts to
hire lawyers or at least provide proof that attempts were made to hire a lawyer by providing the rates and
information for lawyers spoken to before applying for court-appointed lawyer services.
Take the power to determine the list of appointment-eligible attorneys away from the judges. Create a panel
of
I find helping indigent clients in Harris County to be very rewarding There are times when I feel that I
am under a lot of stress with the number of cases that I am asked to handle When that has happened to
me I have mentioned it to the court and found a way to resolve the issue
I think the misdemeanor appointments work well for the most part, but felony seems to favor the judge's
favorite attorneys.
the pay

53

7 new clients in one day in misdemeanor courts is too much to give full attention and fair representation.
On those days, clients complain that they feel rushed. The case limit should take into account the number
of resets for appointed cases.
I do many pro bono cases on my own for indigent. Not sure why I've not been contacted. I've been ready,
willing and able. Thought courts had their favorites.
Despite being a public defender, I am very familiar with the district court appointment system. The two
largest failings I see are: 1) the under investigation of cases by the indigent defense bar; and 2) the failure
of all sides to recognize that the vast majority of incarcerated defendants should be out on bond. I think
Harris County should make it easier for appointed counsel to retain investigators. Drafting and filing
motions, approaching busy judges, locating busy investigators, and completing the ensuing vouchers make
the process of using an investigator almost Byzantine in nature. The county should employ a fleet of full
time investigators and provide offices for them in the courthouse-- perhaps through the PDO. And
appointed attorneys should have access to them without having to get permission and approval from a judge.
Additionally, appointed attorneys should be present at PC court and, instead of the current bond schedule
existing as a de facto bond ruling, the courts should expect all cases (besides a specified list of serious
felonies-- like murder and sex abuse) will be provided PR bonds unless the DA can establish a good reason
to hold the person (e.g. D is on parole, or a specific complainant is at risk).
A 5 minute survey is a joke! If TIDC wanted a clear idea about these issues they would come to Harris
County and talk to attorneys directly, one on one.
The system is still too inhuman for my taste and it lacks compassion for people who are very undereducated
or addicted
I am displeased with our fee arrangements. I take court appointed cases to help those who need good
representation but cannot afford to take many cases each year. I am perplexed why we are not paid for two
law violations that happen to be out of the same transaction. That may mean that I do less "out of court
hours" but when preparing for two separate defenses, which is often the case, it seems only fair to pay us
for our time, skill level and work. I am not impressed with so many of my colleges who rarely try cases, and
with whom take hundreds of court appointed cases, most frighteningly, felony cases. I do not think it is
possible to be an effective voice for our client's when you are spread so thin.
I'd be happy to take them, but have never received one.
We are not paid enough. Several years ago pay was reduced because of budget concerns...across the board.
Every other agency has gotten those reductions replaced. When they reduced our rates, parking was about
$2.50 per day, as an example...now those same lots are charging $10-$12 per day...yet we are still getting
the same rates. Rent has increased, insurance premiums, a gallon of milk...yet our rates have gone down in
the past 10 years! Hourly is based upon the type of case and not the experience of the attorney. Why does
an attorney who has been practicing 35 years receive $40 per hour for out of court hours? Minimum wages
are going up, but not the rates for the Harris County indigent defense. We have to take cases well over the
national recommended caseloads because if we just accepted what the recommended caseloads are, we
would not make enough money to pay for office space or secretarial fees. Some days in accepting individual
cases in misdemeanor court it is cheaper to stay home than accept the maximum 2 cases and pay for gas,
parking, lunch, etc! Our caseloads are heavier than those of the PD's office, yet they are paid a higher wage,
have support staff covered, office rental covered and insurance premiums offset. Simply put, court appointed
attorneys are overworked and underpaid.
Harris County Jail is a cesspool. Clients immediately antagonistic. Ft Bend is completely different story
leading to much better relationships with court appointed clients.
Concerning Harris County misdemeanor appointments specifically, for those defendants who are on bond,
I think the county should consider appointing counsel outside of people that serve as "attorney of the day."
In the present system, the attorneys of the day have to deal with 3-4 clients in custody and then deal with
the on bond client which makes it difficult to devote enough attention to both sets of clients.
I have decided to stop taking appointments. There is widespread violation of the Fair Defense Act. Too few
PR bonds, too many people pleading to get out. The system is a joke. What's worse, as a bilingual attorney
I am often expected to translate pleas and the hearing of probable cause. This is manifestly wrong.

54

There are a lot of excellent court appointed attorneys in Harris County. However there are also some who
need to do something else for a living. They do not care about the client. A problem that court appointed
attorneys who do misdemeanors face in Harris County is clients are locked up and plea just to get out of
jail. An attorney has to convey the offer and allow the client to plea even if the attorney disagrees. As a
result misdemeanor attorneys often get disparaged when it is not really their fault. There also needs to be
a neutral way to remove attorneys from the appointment list if they are not very good. Some attorneys who
should have quit are still getting appointments. It should not be the judge who determines qualifications.
Well, I think some indigent clients benefit from being able to get a second opinion from a different lawyer
about their case, a "luxury" that clients with money are able to afford if they want one.
The power of appointments should be taken away from Judges. Like many other counties, the appointment
of attorneys should be independent of the political "scratch my back and i scratch yours" process. It is sad
when you see an attorney who gets a number of appointments doesn't even open the DA file or read on
offense report before they get their client to plea guilty. Folks who are charged with crimes deserve to get
an attorney who at least kind of cares and has read a criminal statute or case in the past 10 years.
It is not enjoyable.
There need to be reasonable caseload standard set for appointed counsel. Private assigned counsel should
have access to investigation and experts without judicial micromanagement.

55

Appendix E1 -- Term Assignments in Felony Cases

Attorney Name
AZZO, ALEX G.

BECK, MICHELLE E.
BENKEN, BRIAN A.

BISHOP, SUSAN M.
BRISTOW, RACHEL
CAPOTE
CLARK, JOHN ARTHUR
CLOUD, CARVANA
HICKS
CRAFT, E. ROSS
DEANE, SAMUEL HENRY
DICKEY, JEANIE L.
GARRETT, CASEY
GOODE, KENNETH E.
GUERINOT, GERARD W.
GUMBERGER, KURT
HINTON, CHARLES
KEYSER, DEBORAH A.
KHAWAJA, IBRAHIM
ELIAS
MCCRACKEN, KERRY
HOLLINGSWORTH
MILLER, SHERRA DIANN
ROLL, RANDOLPH EARL
SINCLAIR, NATASHA A.
STONE, MICHAEL JOHN

Term Assignment
Felony Cases
Paid
144

Total Paid
through Term
Assignment
$75,840

203
198

$67,165
$91,640

276

$70,705

228th
208th

331
553

$66,755
$96,380

209th
178th
178th
337th
209th
209th
208th
262nd
209th
262nd

257
51
201
439
219
179
553
309
157
192

$86,800
$12,655
$45,715
$78,720
$98,355
$103,605
$97,565
$86,450
$103,305
$61,600

176th, 177th,
178th, 179th, 185th

167

$40,200

424
240

$89,270
$95,195

294
273
184

$71,380
$86,100
$97,170

Courts
337th
176th, 180th,
185th, 230th,
232nd, 248th,
338th
208th
176th, 178th,
178th, 182nd,
185th, 230th,
248th, 263rd

228th
208th
174th, 176th,
178th, 182nd,
184th, 263rd
209th
209th

56

Appendix E2 Assigned Counsel Felony Cases

Attorney
SHANNON, HATTIE
SEWELL
GONZALEZ, RICARDO N.
GUERINOT, EILEEN MARIE

Assigned
Counsel Felony
Cases
499
428
398

Group

Attorney

Assigned
Counsel
Felony
Cases

Group

GARZA, DAVID LAWRENCE

MCCOY, KENNETH
EUGENE
SCOTT, ROBERT R.
GIFFORD, JACQUELINE
MOORE
SEDERIS, STACY ALLEN
GODINICH, JEROME
TREJO, HUMBERTO RENE
TRENT, MICHAEL E.

367

Top 10% GIFFORD, WILLIAM R.

Top 10% MARTIN, STEPHANIE LYNN
Top 10% OWMBY, JOSEPH S.
TURNBULL, EDWARD
Top 10% RANDOLPH

361
353

Top 10% LEWIS, THOMAS JOSEPH

Top 10% WISNER, VICTOR JAY

211
209

Next 40%
Next 40%

347
339
330
320
318

Top 10%
Top 10%
Top 10%
Top 10%
Top 10%

207
199
198
196
188

Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%

DOEBBLER, TED R.
BURTON, RUTH YVONNE
BROOKS, JAMES M.

317
309
303

Top 10%
Top 10%
Top 10%

187
186
184

Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%

BARR, JAMES L.

302

Top 10%

184

Next 40%

COTLAR, DORIAN CLAUDE

FLEMING, MARCUS
JUSTIN
SAVOY, BRYAN K.
ACOSTA, GERALDO G.
AITKEN, LUCIENNE E.
AGUIRRE, JUAN JOSE
PETRUZZI, JOHN MICHAEL
GREENLEE, STEVEN
MOSELEY, ANN LEE
DULEVITZ
DESAI, RIDDHI
BRUEGGER, ALEXIS
GILBERT
HUBBARD, LATREECIA
MARSHALL, LUCINDA KAY
MARTINEZ, HERMAN
NOLL, CHARLES A.
FOSHER, MICHAEL P.
SALINAS, J. A.

288

Top 10%

RUZZO, PATRICK J.
JANIK, PAGE E.
VINAS, JOSEPH FRANCIS
BACKERS, BEVERLY J.
JOHNSON, KYLE B.
CONTRERAS, JUAN
MANUEL
CRAWFORD, DENISE MARIA
ANDREWS, LISA KAY
HIGGINBOTHAM, CARY
LYNN
GRAHAM, SPENCE
DOUGLAS

181

Next 40%

284
277
274
273
271
269
268

Top 10%
Top 10%
Top 10%
Top 10%
Top 10%
Top 10%
Top 10%

AYERS, RANDALL J.
BARNEY, KAREN A.
DEVLIN, ERIC HEADEN
MARTIN, THOMAS ALLAN
WARREN, BRIAN E
BAKER, WENDY
SALAZAR, JOEL EDWARD

180
178
178
178
177
176
175

Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%

264
256

Top 10% CASTRO, RAY ANTHONY

Top 10% BUNDICK, CRAIG

166
163

Next 40%
Next 40%

163
161
157
156
150
149
149

Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%

252
248
243
233
233
231
229

Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%

NEEDHAM, JESSICA NICOLE

MADRID, MARIO
RAFIEE, PARIA
DOUGLAS, LARRY B.
MAIDA, SAM A.
MIRANDA, SERGIO T.
MOORE, MARY C. A.

229
217
215

Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%

215

Next 40%

57

Attorney

Assigned
Counsel
Felony
Cases

ONCKEN, KIRK J.
LEITNER, CAROL MICHELLE

149
148

BROWN, CHARLES ALLEN

147

DODIER, ELIHU H.
ORTIZ, JIMMY JOE
ACOSTA, JAIME GARCIA

147
146
145

SEGURA, PATRICIA
SMITH, KEISHA L.
ESTRADA, JESSICA
REBEKAH BETTS
CORNELIUS, R. P.
NUNNERY, A. E.
PRESS, DIONNE SUSAN
WELLS, JOE DAVID
ANDERSON, WILFORD A.
SULLA, JAMIE M.
SUMMERS, DEBORAH D.
ST. JULIAN, COURTNEY
KISLUK, BRET STEVEN
DIXON, WOODROW
WILSON I
ROBERTS, BRIAN MARC
VILLARREAL, GILBERTO A.
LUONG, JASON
KOMORN, JANET
ELIZABETH
LOPEZ, BLANCA E.
ABBEY, KIMBERLY DAWN
PUBCHARA, SILVIA V.
RODRIGUEZ, GILBERTO
LIPKIN, MARK G.
MULDROW, LORETTA
JOHNSON
DUPONT, THOMAS B.
BALDERAS, ANTONIO
BROUSSARD, ARLAN J.
YOUNGBLOOD, GLENN J.
ZAMIR, SHAHIN

Group

Attorney

Assigned
Counsel
Felony
Cases

Group

96

Next 40%

95

Next 40%

93
93
92
92

Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%

145
145

Next 40% GAISER, TERRENCE A.

Next 40%
WENTZ, KURT BUDD
Next 40%
BROWN, ADAM BANKS
Next 40% RICHARDSON, DAN WILLIAM
Next 40% DUARTE, RUDY MORIN
Next 40% ESCOBEDO, SYLVIA YVONNE
MORTON, CHRISTOPHER
Next 40% DEAN
Next 40% LAFON, TOMMY L.

89
86

Next 40%
Next 40%

142
141
140
140
140
138
137
137
134
132

Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%

VIJ, VIKRAM
MILLER, MANDY GOLDMAN
CLINE, CYNTHIA JEAN-MARIE
ISBELL, ALLEN C.
SLOPIS, SHARON ELIZABETH
SMITH, JAMES DENNIS
LARSON, KEITH DANIEL
MERCHANT, FEROZ FAROOK
GRAVES, JAMES TUCKER
JORDAN, OLIVIA LIANE

86
85
84
84
84
84
81
81
80
80

Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%

128
127
126
123

Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%

RAMIREZ, ENRIQUE C.
CROWLEY, JAMES SIDNEY
RODRIGUEZ, LOURDES
CANTU, JORGE A.

76
75
75
74

Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%

122
122
119
116
111
108

Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%

WOOD, HARRIS S.
HAYNES, GEMAYEL LOCHON
TANNER, ALLEN MARK
HALE, JEFFREY KARL
CLEMENTS, MARTHA JANE
HAYES, RONALD NELSON

74
73
73
72
70
70

Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Bottom 50%

102
101
100
99
99
98

Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%
Next 40%

PODOLSKY, BRETT A.
GULAMALI, SHREYA
MCCULLOUGH, ELLIS C.
VARELA, JOSEPH WILLIAM
FISHER, DENA
ROGERS, ALVIS O.

70
68
68
67
65
65

Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%

58

Attorney

Assigned
Counsel
Felony
Cases

Group

NASSIF, MICHAEL PAUL

NEWMAN, LOUIS MURAT

64
63

LAIRD, JULES L.
GILLMAN, MICHAEL
DAVID
MUSICK-LONG, JOANNE
MARIE
JONES, JOLANDA F.
EASTERLING, DANNY KARL
RENFRO, MICHAEL D.
ALEXANDER, ROBERT F.
SEDITA, PATRICIA
FORTNEY
CONTRERAS, JUAN M.
GLASS, JAMES GREGORY
MARTIN, ANDREW
DWIGHT
BIGGAR, STACI DIAN

61

Attorney
DAVIDSON, CLINT PAUL
Bottom 50% ROYCE
Bottom 50%
NACHTIGALL, DAVID ALLEN
Bottom 50% SAMPSON, KYLE REEVES

60

RADOSEVICH, THOMAS A.
RODRIGUEZ, RAUL
CANTRELL, DONALD R.

45
42
41

GRABER, JERALD KAPLAN

VARA, JANE SCOTT

41
41

ALFARO, XAVIER
SALHAB, JOSEPH
HANSEN, R. K.
KEIRNAN, JOHN PATRICK
BORG, LEAH M.
LOPER, DOUGLAS
BRADLEY
SCHULTZ, NATALIE LYNN
PLAUT, BENJAMIN B.
SECREST, ALLISON ANNE
LOCKLEAR, TROY SCOTT
CONNORS, CLAIRE TERESA
DIGGS, CHERYL HARRIS
MILLER, GARY SCHAFFER
ST. JOHN, PAUL
WILLIAMS, CLYDE HILL

37
37
36
36
35

Assigned
Counsel
Felony
Cases

Group

26

Bottom 50%

25
25

Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%

Bottom 50% HILL, CHARLES ERNEST

24

Bottom 50%

56
55
52
49
48

Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%

MONCRIFFE, TYRONE C.
STRYKER, KEVIN BRADLEY
SMITH, KELLY ANN
WILLIAMS, CONNIE BROWN
HILL, JOSHUA

24
24
23
23
22

Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%

48
47
47

Bottom 50% POLLAND, GARY MICHAEL

Bottom 50% GOMMELS, PHILIP MICHAEL
Bottom 50% HUGHES, DALLAS CRAIG

20
19
18

Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%

47
46

Bottom 50% ASH, MARK J.

Bottom 50% BROOKS, LOTT JOSEPH
MCLAUGHLIN, TONYA
Bottom 50% ROLLAND
Bottom 50% MORAN, THOMAS DONALD
Bottom 50% PONS, JAMES FRANCISCO
BALDWIN, SHANNON
Bottom 50% BRICHELLE
Bottom 50% BOURQUE, GERALD E.
MCKNIGHT, LINDSEY
Bottom 50% MERWIN
Bottom 50% OSSO, ANTHONY
Bottom 50% CORTES, EDUARDO
Bottom 50% LINTON, CRESPIN MICHAEL
Bottom 50% WYBORNY, DAVID ALAN
CARDENAS, ROBERT
Bottom 50% VILLAGOMEZ
Bottom 50% STAFFORD, JAMES T.
Bottom 50% JACKSON, ERIN LARENA
Bottom 50% SUHLER, DAVID ROBERT
Bottom 50% WILLIAMS, QUENTIN TATE
Bottom 50% HORAK, MATTHEW PATRICK
Bottom 50% JONES, HAZEL BEATRICE
Bottom 50% KING, VIVIAN R.
Bottom 50% LOPER, ROBERT KENT
Bottom 50% MORROW, ROBERT A.

12
12

Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%

12
12
12

Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%

11
11

Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%

9
9
8
8
8

Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%

7
6
5
5
5
4
4
4
4
4

Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%

35
32
29
29
28
27
27
27
27
27

59

Attorney
RAMSEY, ROBERT SCOTT
UNGER, HILARY DIANE
GRAY, LORI CHAMBERS
MUNIER, MARIE

Assigned
Counsel
Felony
Cases
4
4
3
3

Group
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%

ANINAO, V. ANTONIO
CAMPBELL, JAMES REESE
PARKS, CALVIN DESHON
PASTORINI, WINIFRED
AKINS
SACHDEVA, NEELU
UHRAN, CRAIG WILLIAM

2
2
2
2
2
2

COULSON, W. MICHAEL

DURHAM, DOUGLAS M.

HILL, WAYNE T.
JOHNSON, THOMAS LEE
MCCANN, PATRICK F.
BAILEY, JOE
BURKHOLDER, HENRY
CASTRO, LIONEL
CHERNOFF, EDWARD
COCHRAN, WINSTON
COULSON, REBECCA
DEBORDE, NICOLE
DOWNEY, CHRISTOPHER
EASTEPP, LARRY
GORDAN, LANA
GOTSCHALL, GLENN
GUERRERO, YALILA
HAMM, LANCE
HENLEY, CYNTHIA
HERSHKOWITZ, STEVEN
HILL, TARYN
JONES, IRA
KAHN, LEORA
KELBER, KATHRYN
MAYR, THOMAS
BRANTON
MIDDLETON, BRIAN
MUNOZ, EMILY
PATRANO, CHEVO

Attorney
PELTON, ROBERT
REAGIN, SHAWNA
ROSENBERG, ROBERT
RUBAL, MARK ALLEN

Assigned
Counsel
Felony
Cases
0
0
0
0

Group
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%

Bottom 50% SCARDINO, KATHERINE

Bottom 50% SIMS, BRANDON
Bottom 50% ST. MARTIN, STEPHEN

0
0
0

Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%

0
0
0

Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%

0
0

Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%

1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

Bottom 50% STEPHENSON, JONATHON

Bottom 50% SULLIVAN, JAMES
Bottom 50% TAYLOR, BILL
TOUCHSTONE, STEPHEN
Bottom 50%
VELA, JOSE
Bottom 50%
WALKER, SEDRICK
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%

Bottom 50%

0
0
0
0

Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%
Bottom 50%

60

Appendix E3 - Misdemeanor Term Assignments

Attorney Name
ACOSTA, SHELIA RIDDLE
ARREDONDO, ERNESTO
CARPENTER, JENNIFER LEE
GUIDRY, ALLEN JOHN
MACIAS, ALEJANDRO
MARSHALL, LUCINDA KAY
MONTES, LUCIO ANTONIO
MORTON, CHRISTOPHER DEAN
OUGRAH, KRISHNAMURTI S.
RANDALL, STEPHEN EDWARD
RODRIGUEZ, RAUL
SAPIEN, MARCO ANTONIO
SCHULTZ, NATALIE LYNN
WISNER, VICTOR JAY
CANTU, JORGE A.
HIGGINBOTHAM, CARY LYNN
RAMIREZ, ENRIQUE C.
WALKER, MEKISHA JANE
ABNER, MICHAEL ANTHONY
ALFARO, XAVIER
ASH, MARK J.
GUIDRY, ALLEN JOHN

Misdemeanor
Assigned
Term Assignments and Approximate Time
Cases Paid
Total Paid
Court
Periods as Indicated by General Ledger
136
$13,800
CCL 1
90 day (Oct 13 - Dec 14)
2 - 90 day terms (Oct 13 - Dec 14) & (Jun 14 335
$33,550
CCL 1
Sept 14)
169
$15,838
CCL 1
90 day (Mar 14 - Jun 14)
90 day (Oct 13 - Dec 13) & term beginning Sep
284
$20,750
CCL 1
14
159
$17,600
CCL 1
90 day (Dec 13 - Mar 14)
70
$5,050
CCL 1
90 day (Mar 14 - Jun 14)
147
$13,910
CCL 1
90 day (Mar 14 - Jun 14)
71
$5,900
CCL 1
90 day (Jun 14 - Sep 14)
192
$15,750
CCL 1
90 day (Jun 14 - Sep 14)
72
$9,950
CCL 1
90 day (Jun 14 - Sep 14)
66
$6,900
CCL 1
90 day (Jan 14 - Mar 14)
161
$13,800
CCL 1
90 day (Mar 14 - Jun 14)
115
$10,985
CCL 1
90 day (Dec 13 - Mar 14)
90 day (Jan 14 - Mar 14) & term beginning Sep
267
$22,450
CCL 1
14
758
645
180
755

$72,150
$54,260
$23,200
$67,075

CCL 2
CCL 2
CCL 2
CCL 2

12 mos (Oct 13 - Sept 14)

12 mos (Oct 13 - Sept 14)
12 mos (Oct 13 - Sept 14)
12 mos (Oct 13 - Sept 14)

113
143
67
128

$9,000
$11,600
$8,185
$7,300

CCL 3
CCL 3
CCL 3
CCL 3

90 day (Jun 14 - Aug 14)

90 day (Oct 13 - Dec 13)
term continuing from FY13
90 day (Jun 14 - Aug 14)

LEITNER, CAROL MICHELLE

MACIAS, ALEJANDRO
MUNIZ, MARJORIE ANN

133
115
112

$35,589
$10,800
$9,325

CCL 3
CCL 3
CCL 3

PAPANTONAKIS, JOHN PETER

RANDALL, STEPHEN EDWARD

172
108

$18,150
$11,750

CCL 3
CCL 3

SANTOS, RENATO
SAPIEN, MARCO ANTONIO
TOUCHSTONE, STEPHEN EDWARD
TRENT, MICHAEL E.
WALKER, SEDRICK TIMOTHY
WRIGHT, ANDREW ALEXANDER
ACOSTA, SHELIA RIDDLE

264
152
140
147
112
123

$25,700
$10,300
$10,900
$13,180
$10,230
$9,855

CCL 3
CCL 3
CCL 3
CCL 3
CCL 3
CCL 3

353

$37,950

CCL 4

ALDAPE, JUAN MANUEL

DE VEGA, GABRIEL M.
GUIDRY, ALLEN JOHN
JIMENEZ, JOAQUIN

257
88
130
123

$28,250
$7,850
$12,300
$13,850

CCL 4
CCL 4
CCL 4
CCL 4

90 day term (Mar 14 - Jun 14) & DWI Sober

Atty (for entire year)
90 day (Jun 14 - Sept 14)
90 day (Jan 14 - Mar 14)
2 - 90 day terms (Jun 14 - Sept 14) & (Oct 13 Dec 13)
90 day (Mar 14 - Jun 14)
2 - 90 day terms (Oct 13 - Dec 13) & (Mar 14 Jun 14)
90 day (Jan 14 - Mar 14)
90 day (Oct 13 - Dec 13)
90 day (Mar 14 - Jun 14)
90 day (Jan 14 - Mar 14)
90 day (Jan 14 - Mar 14)
180 day (Jan 14 - Jul 14)
2 - 90 day terms (Jan 14 - Mar 14) & (Jun 14 Sept 14)
90 day (Jan 14 - Mar 14)
90 day (Mar 14 - Jun 14)
90 day (Jun 14 - Sept 14)

61

Appendix E3 - Misdemeanor Term Assignments

Attorney Name
KHAWAJA, IBRAHIM ELIAS
MARTIN, ANDREW DWIGHT
MONTES, LUCIO ANTONIO
MOORE, MICHAEL HARDIE
NASSIF, MICHAEL PAUL
PONS, JAMES FRANCISCO
PRESS, DIONNE SUSAN
SAMPSON, KYLE REEVES
BOTELLO, LORI ANN
CARDENAS, ROBERT VILLAGOMEZ
DAVIS, MYRON GABRIEL
HILL, JOSHUA
JANIK, PAGE E.
KELBER, KATHRYN WHARTON
MACIAS, ALEJANDRO
MCLAUGHLIN, TONYA ROLLAND
MEDLEY, DINA A.
PARRISH, DAMON
TOUCHSTONE, STEPHEN EDWARD

Misdemeanor
Assigned
Term Assignments and Approximate Time
Cases Paid
Total Paid
Court
Periods as Indicated by General Ledger
127
$12,930
CCL 4
90 day (Oct 13 - Dec 13)
108
$8,500
CCL 4
90 day (Jun 14 - Sept 14)
182
$22,225
CCL 4
90 day (Oct 13 - Dec 13)
118
$13,500
CCL 4
90 day (Mar 14 - Jun 14)
103
$10,350
CCL 4
90 day (Mar 14 - Jun 14)
91
$10,000
CCL 4
90 day (Jan 14 - Mar 14)
129
$9,850
CCL 4
90 day (Oct 13 - Dec 13)
53
$5,250
CCL 4
90 day (Jun 14 - Sep 14)
166

$16,938

CCL 5

259
101
331
159
37
180
338
159
295
241

$20,775
$12,765
$27,750
$13,250
$5,281
$14,450
$25,450
$17,115
$28,390
$20,900

CCL 5
CCL 5
CCL 5
CCL 5
CCL 5
CCL 5
CCL 5
CCL 5
CCL 5
CCL 5

BENAVIDES, ANTONIO

196

$21,220

CCL 6

BENAVIDES, KELLY DENISE

BOTELLO, LORI ANN
CARPENTER, JENNIFER LEE
ESTRADA, JESSICA REBEKAH BETTS
GILLMAN, MICHAEL DAVID

305
120
141
80
113

$30,300
$14,900
$10,600
$9,600
$11,925

CCL 6
CCL 6
CCL 6
CCL 6
CCL 6

HENLEY, CYNTHIA RUSSELL

LIMITONE, ANTHONY V.
MCLELLAN, WILLIAM RENE
RUBAL, MARK ALLEN
SUAREZ, RICHARD A.
TURNER, EQUATOR LAVETTE
ASH, MARK J.
CORTES, EDUARDO
DESAI, RIDDHI
DIXON, JOHN ARTHUR
HAYNES, GEMAYEL LOCHON

252
329
195
58
138
87

$21,610
$31,900
$18,565
$6,500
$11,900
$8,650

CCL 6
CCL 6
CCL 6
CCL 6
CCL 6
CCL 6

61
46
30
28
6

$6,800
$6,260
$3,910
$2,250
$2,250

CCL 7
CCL 7
CCL 7
CCL 7
CCL 7

HILL, JOSHUA
ILLICH KENNELL, KARLI GAYLE
JIMENEZ, JOAQUIN
LEITNER, CAROL MICHELLE

390
20
107
27

$29,550
$1,750
$10,190
$2,750

CCL 7
CCL 7
CCL 7
CCL 7

90 day (Jun 14 - Sept 14)

2 - 90 day terms (Oct 13 - Dec 13) & (Jun 14 Sept 14)
90 day (Oct 13 - Dec 13)
180 day (Jan 14 - Jun 14)
90 day (Jun 14 - Sept 14)
30 day (Oct 13)
90 day (Oct 13 - Dec 13)
long term (Jan 14 - Aug 14)
90 day (Oct 13 - Dec 13)
180 day (Jan 14 - Jun 14)
180 day (Jan 14 - Jun 14)
180 day term (Mar 14 - Sept 14) & 90 day
term (Oct 13 - Dec 13)
2 - 90 day terms (Jan 14 - Mar 14) & (Jun 14 Aug 14)
90 day (Oct 13 - Dec 13)
90 day (Jan 14 - Mar 14)
90 day (Apr 14 - Jun 14)
90 day (Oct 13 - Dec 13)
2 - 90 day terms (Jan 14 - Mar 14) & (Jun 14 Aug 14)
180 day (Apr 14 - Sept 14)
90 day (Oct 13 - Dec 13)
90 day (Jun 14 - Aug 14)
90 day (Jan 14 - Mar 14)
90 day (Apr 14 - Jun 14)
2 - 30 day terms (May 14) & (Nov 13)
30 day (Jan 14)
30 day (Feb 14)
30 day (Mar)
term continuing from FY13
2 - 90 day terms (Oct 13 - Dec 13) & (Jun 14 Aug 14)
30 day (Nov 13)
2 - 30 day terms (Oct 13) & (Dec 13)
30 day (Oct 13)

62

Appendix E3 - Misdemeanor Term Assignments

Attorney Name
MCGEE, ANDREW G.
MEDLEY, DINA A.
MIRANDA, SERGIO T.
MOORE, MICHAEL HARDIE
MUNIZ, MARJORIE ANN
PIERCE, TAMI CHERI
PRESS, DIONNE SUSAN
SUAREZ, RICHARD A.
VARA, JANE SCOTT
ALDAPE, JUAN MANUEL
ARNOLD, KEVIN DARNELL
ARREDONDO, ERNESTO
BEEDLE, NATHAN NATHANIEL
BENAVIDES, ANTONIO
BENAVIDES, KELLY DENISE
CORNELIUS, WILLIAM TERRELL
CRAWFORD, DENISE MARIA
CRUZ, ROBERT
DESAI, RIDDHI
HAYNES, GEMAYEL LOCHON
ILLICH KENNELL, KARLI GAYLE
IZAGUIRRE, ABEL
MACK, LORI DEE
MALAZZO, BEVERLY BRADEMAN
MONTES, LUCIO ANTONIO
PAPANTONAKIS, JOHN PETER
PRUETT, CARL R.
RODRIGUEZ, GILBERTO
SAMPLE, MAITE MARIE
SANTOS, RENATO
SCHULTE, NATHAN JOSEPH
SHELTON, EMILY ANDREA
TOUCHSTONE, STEPHEN EDWARD
TOWNSEND, MICHELLE RUTH
TURNER, EQUATOR LAVETTE
ZAMIR, SHAHIN
ALFARO, XAVIER
ARREDONDO, ERNESTO
BENAVIDES, KELLY DENISE
CASTRO, LIONEL J.
CORTES, EDUARDO
CRUZ, ROBERT

Misdemeanor
Assigned
Term Assignments and Approximate Time
Cases Paid
Total Paid
Court
Periods as Indicated by General Ledger
22
$2,550
30 day (Dec 13)
CCL 7
110
$14,230
90 day (Jan 14 - Mar 14)
CCL7
27
$6,230
30 day (Feb 14)
CCL 7
183
$16,940
90 day (Jan 14 - Mar 14)
CCL 7
180 day term (Apr 14 - Sept 14) & 90 day term
332
$36,500
(Oct 13 - Dec 13)
CCL 7
57
$5,090
90 day (Jun 14 - Sept 14)
CCL 7
180 day term (Mar 14 - Aug 14) & 30 day term
392
$31,800
(Jan 14)
CCL 7
143
$14,650
90 day (Apr 14 - Jun 14)
CCL 7
77
$7,100
90 day (Apr 14 - Jun 14)
CCL 7
37
195
197
13
60
62
136
162

$3,000
$15,800
$16,800
$1,050
$7,500
$5,100
$13,950
$17,000

CCL 8
CCL 8
CCL 8
CCL 8
CCL 8
CCL 8
CCL 8
CCL 8

99
20
23
22
205
25
12
42
19
41
43
21
108
58
38
160
23
65
201

$10,020
$3,400
$2,500
$2,250
$21,013
$2,900
$1,600
$4,450
$2,550
$4,975
$5,000
$2,500
$12,350
$4,565
$4,000
$17,550
$2,225
$5,525
$18,275

195
80
231
107
43
203

$15,450
$6,100
$18,540
$7,250
$4,250
$21,300

CCL 8
CCL 8
CCL 8
CCL 8
CCL 8
CCL 8
CCL 8
CCL 8
CCL 8
CCL 8
CCL 8
CCL 8
CCL 8
CCL 8
CCL 8
CCL 8
CCL 8
CCL 8
CCL 8
CCL 9
CCL 9
CCL 9
CCL 9
CCL 9
CCL 9

90 day (Apr 14 - Jun 14)

90 day (Mar 14 - Jun 14)
90 day (Mar 14 - Jun 14)
term continuing from FY13
2 - 30 day terms (Oct 13) & (Feb 14)
2 - 30 day terms (May 14) & (Sept 14)
90 day (Jun 14 - Aug 14)
90 day term (Jan 14 - Mar 14)
3 - 30 day terms (Mar 14) & (Jun 14) & (Aug
14)
30 day (Dec 13)
30 day (Jan 14)
30 day (Feb 14)
90 day (Oct 13 - Dec 13)
30 day (Jul 14)
30 day (Mar 14)
30 day (Jan 14)
30 day (Apr 14)
30 day (May 14)
2 - 30 day terms (Nov 13) & (Dec 13)
30 day (Jul 14)
90 day (Jan 14 - Mar 14)
2- 30 day terms (May 14) & (Jun 14)
30 day (Apr 14)
90 day (Jun 14 - Aug 14)
30 day (Oct 13)
30 day (Nov 13)
90 day (Oct 13 - Dec 13)
180 day (Jan 14 - Jun 14)
30 day (Feb 14)
90 day (Oct 13 - Dec 13)
90 day (Jun 14 - Aug 14)
30 day (Mar 14)
180 day (Jan 14 - Jun 14)

63

Appendix E3 - Misdemeanor Term Assignments

Attorney Name
DICKEY, JEANIE L.
JIMENEZ, JOAQUIN
LIMITONE, ANTHONY V.
MARTIN, ANDREW DWIGHT
MCLELLAN, WILLIAM RENE
OUGRAH, KRISHNAMURTI S.
VARA, JANE SCOTT
VELA, JOSE JULIO
ASH, MARK J.
BENAVIDES, ANTONIO
BENAVIDES, KELLY DENISE
BOORSTEIN, BARRY

Misdemeanor
Assigned
Term Assignments and Approximate Time
Cases Paid
Total Paid
Court
Periods as Indicated by General Ledger
118
$8,000
CCL 9
90 day (Oct 13 - Dec 13)
314
$34,455
CCL 9
180 day (Jan 14 - Jun 14)
161
$18,000
CCL 9
90 day (Oct 13 - Dec 13)
138
$10,550
CCL 9
90 day (Oct 13 - Dec 13)
172
$18,900
CCL 9
90 day (Jun 14 - Aug 14)
216
$14,600
CCL 9
180 day (Jan 14 - Jun 14)
92
$8,500
CCL 9
90 day (Jun 14 - Aug 14)
205
$20,100
CCL 9
90 day (Jun 14 - Aug 14)
276
51
33
508

$30,150
$6,100
$3,300
$38,600

CCL 10
CCL 10
CCL 10
CCL 10

CARDENAS, ROBERT VILLAGOMEZ

CARPENTER, JENNIFER LEE
CORNELIUS, WILLIAM TERRELL

118
140
83

$6,300
$11,850
$9,900

CCL 10
CCL 10
CCL 10

CORTES, EDUARDO
CRUZ, ROBERT
DUONG, JOHN D.
GUIDRY, ALLEN JOHN
JIMENEZ, JOAQUIN
LEWIS, JORDAN ELLIOTT
LUDWIG, V. JEFFREY
MUNIZ, MARJORIE ANN
RAFIEE, PARIA
SANTOS, RENATO
SAPIEN, MARCO ANTONIO
WASHINGTON, TYRONE WILLIAM
ALFARO, XAVIER
BROWN, CHERYL SHOOKS
CONTRERAS, JUAN M.
ESTRADA, JESSICA REBEKAH BETTS
FLEISCHER, DAVID MARCEL
HENLEY, CYNTHIA RUSSELL
MCLELLAN, WILLIAM RENE
RANDALL, STEPHEN EDWARD
RODRIGUEZ, RAUL
TSIOROS, GREGORY
ZAMIR, SHAHIN
ABBEY, KIMBERLY DAWN
CONTRERAS, JUAN M.
DIXON, JOHN ARTHUR
DIXON, WOODROW WILSON I
ILLICH KENNELL, KARLI GAYLE

136
39
16
73
42
40
655
72
77
51
31
36

$16,920
$3,600
$3,100
$5,650
$6,070
$4,645
$46,140
$6,000
$6,900
$4,930
$2,400
$4,000

CCL 10
CCL 10
CCL 10
CCL 10
CCL 10
CCL 10
CCL 10
CCL 10
CCL 10
CCL 10
CCL 10
CCL 10

long term assignment (Jan 14 - Sept 14)

30 day (Dec 13)
90 day (Apr 14 - Jun 14)
12 mos (Oct 13 - Sept 14)
90 day term (Oct 13 - Dec 13) & 30 day term
(Feb 14)
2 - 30 day terms (Oct 13 & Jul 14)
2 - 30 day terms (Dec 13 & Feb 14)
3 - 30 day terms (Nov 13) & (Apr 14) & (Aug
14)
30 day (Feb 14)
term continuing from FY13
90 day (Jan 14 - Mar 14)
30 day (Nov 13)
2 - 30 day terms (Apr 14) & (Sept 14)
12 mos (Oct 13 - Sept 14)
30 day (May 14)
2 - 30 day terms (Apr 14) & (May 14)
30 day (Aug 14)
term continuing from FY13
30 day (Nov 13)

91
225
271
169
432
71
161
102
220
260
236

$8,200
$21,720
$33,300
$14,100
$28,500
$4,450
$15,200
$7,960
$20,050
$27,500
$19,900

CCL 11
CCL 11
CCL 11
CCL 11
CCL 11
CCL 11
CCL 11
CCL 11
CCL 11
CCL 11
CCL 11

90 day (Jun 14 - Sept 14)

90 day (Oct 13 - Dec 13)
180 day (Mar 14 - Sept 14)
90 day (Jan 14 - Mar 14)
180 day (Mar 14 - Sept 14)
90 day (Oct 13 - Dec 13)
90 day (Jan 14 - Mar 14)
90 day (Jan 14 - Mar 14)
90 day (Oct 13 - Dec 13)
180 day (Jan 14 - Jun 14)
180 day (Mar 14 - Sept 14)

190
171
207
100
99

$18,190
$18,600
$16,550
$8,350
$8,800

CCL 12
CCL 12
CCL 12
CCL 12
CCL 12

90 day (Oct 13 - Dec 13)

90 day (Jan 14 - Mar 14)
90 day (Oct 13 - Dec 13)
90 day (Jun 14 - Aug 14)
90 day (Mar 14 - Jun 14)

64

Appendix E3 - Misdemeanor Term Assignments

Attorney Name
LIMITONE, ANTHONY V.
MCLELLAN, WILLIAM RENE
MIRANDA, SERGIO T.
NACHTIGALL, DAVID ALLEN
RODRIGUEZ, FERNANDO JOSE
RUBAL, MARK ALLEN
SAMPLE, MAITE MARIE
SAPIEN, MARCO ANTONIO
WISNER, VICTOR JAY
FLEISCHER, DAVID MARCEL
PONS, JAMES FRANCISCO
RICHARDSON, DAN WILLIAM
RODRIGUEZ, FERNANDO JOSE
RODRIGUEZ, GILBERTO
RODRIGUEZ, RAUL
SCHULTZ, NATALIE LYNN
TSIOROS, GREGORY
ZAMIR, SHAHIN
BENAVIDES, KELLY DENISE
BUSH, PRISCILLA TOMMYE
CORTES, EDUARDO
DIXON, JOHN ARTHUR
IZAGUIRRE, ABEL
JOACHIM, CARSON FLYNN
KELBER, KATHRYN WHARTON
LEWIS, JORDAN ELLIOTT
MOORE, MICHAEL HARDIE
NACHTIGALL, DAVID ALLEN
OUGRAH, KRISHNAMURTI S.
SHAPIRO, LISA
ABBEY, KIMBERLY DAWN
AGUIRRE, JUAN JOSE
CONTRERAS, JUAN M.
DICKEY, JEANIE L.
FRANKLIN, RAMONA NICOLE
MONTES, LUCIO ANTONIO
MOORE, MICHAEL HARDIE
RICHARDSON, DAN WILLIAM
SAPIEN, MARCO ANTONIO
SMITH, JAMES RANDALL
VELA, JOSE JULIO

Misdemeanor
Assigned
Term Assignments and Approximate Time
Cases Paid
Total Paid
Court
Periods as Indicated by General Ledger
159
$18,300 CCL 12 90 day (Jan 14 - Apr 14)
156
$16,725 CCL 12 90 day (Mar 14 - Jun 14)
74
$8,700 CCL 12 90 day (Jun 14 - Aug 14)
86
$7,700 CCL 12 90 day (Jun 14 - Aug 14)
116
$10,100 CCL 12 90 day (Mar 14 - Jun 14)
90 day term (Jan 14 - Mar 14) & term
143
$16,475 CCL 12 beginning Sept 14
53
$4,650 CCL 12 30 day (Sept 14)
151
$14,300
CCl 12
90 day (Jun 14 - Sept 14)
160
$16,350 CCL 12 90 day (Mar 14 - Jun 14)
313
114
226
294
249
299
197

$36,050
$10,600
$24,000
$34,700
$33,650
$37,250
$18,480

CCL 13
CCL 13
CCL 13
CCL 13
CCL 13
CCL 13
CCL 13

92
83

$8,700
$6,805

CCL 13
CCL 13

180 day (Oct 13 - Mar 14)

90 day (Oct 13 - Dec 13)
long term (Jan 14 - Aug 14)
180 day (Oct 13 - Mar 14)
180 day (Mar 14 - Sept 14)
180 day (Mar 14 - Sept 14)
180 day (Mar 14 - Sept 14)
90 day term (Oct 13 - Dec 13) & term
beginning Sept 14
90 day (Jan 14 - Mar 14)

45
100
61
378
655
141
51
108
194
259
166
138

$3,600
$8,500
$6,900
$24,750
$52,800
$12,600
$8,705
$11,900
$18,988
$22,650
$12,450
$13,715

CCL 14
CCL 14
CCL 14
CCL 14
CCL 14
CCL 14
CCL 14
CCL 14
CCL 14
CCL 14
CCL 14
CCL 14

30 day (Apr 14)

90 day (Jun 14 - Sept 14)
90 day (Apr 14 - Jun 14)
180 day (Mar 14 - Sept 14)
long term (Jan 14 - Sept 14)
90 day (Oct 13 - Dec 13)
90 day (Jan 14 - Mar 14)
90 day (Jan 14 - Mar 14)
90 day (Oct 13 - Dec 13)
180 day (Jan 14 - Jun 14)
90 day (Oct 13 - Dec 13)
90 day (Oct 13 - Dec 13)

428
272
152
410
126
128
150
167
159
20
220

$35,850
$28,200
$18,000
$35,900
$12,750
$14,000
$14,455
$12,650
$13,300
$2,650
$24,600

CCL 15
CCL 15
CCL 15
CCL 15
CCL 15
CCL 15
CCL 15
CCL 15
CCL 15
CCL 15
CCL 15

long term (Jan 14 - Sept 14)

180 day (Jan 14 - Jun 14)
90 day (Oct 13 - Dec 13)
long term (Jan 14 - Sept 14)
90 day (Oct 13 - Dec 13)
90 day (Jun 14 - Sept 14)
90 day (Jun 14 - Sept 14)
90 day (Oct 13 - Dec 13)
90 day (Oct 13 - Dec 13)
term continuing from FY13
180 day (Jan 14 - Jun 14)

65

Appendix E4 - Public Defender Caseloads

Attorney Name
REZAI, MARY CATHLEEN
GOOCH, LORI JANELLE
MUELLER, SARAH ALLISON
BARTON, CURTIS E.
KUNDIGER, DANIEL
POPE, SCOTT CHRISTOPHER
JOHNSON, JULES EVAN
MARTIN, RAY B.
DOWNING, AMANDA GAY
STEWART GRAVOIS, JACQUELYN
GONZALES, MONICA LISA
TERRY, TANYA LYNN
JACKSON, JUANITA ALEXANDRA
DAVIS, ERIC J.
TUTHILL, ROBERT HAMPTON
DOWNING, JEFFREY NEIL
OLVERA, DIANA
RUDEN, MARY GRACE
CARPENTER, JACQUELYN RAECHELLE
BELL, TE'IVA JOHNSON
LACAYO, DANILO
STILL, JOHN CRAIG
MEADOR, MIRANDA DAWN
HALPERT, STEVEN HARVEY
SIMPSON, AMY ELIZABETH
HOCHGLAUBE, MARK
HUGHES, NICOLAS ROBERT
DONLEY, ROGER SCOTT
BYNUM, FRANKLIN GORDON
DUNCAN, CHERI LYNN
WICOFF, ROBERT S.

Juvenile
Capital
Cases
Murder Cases
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
178
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
170
0
168
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
148
0
149
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
14
87
82
0
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

Felony
Cases
0
0
7
0
1
179
175
170
0
0
154
156
153
151
1
0
141
23
135
127
114
113
95
0
0
81
1
70
9
0
0

Misdemeanor Appeals Total Cases

Cases
Cases
Paid
367
0
367
343
0
343
296
0
303
243
0
243
0
0
179
0
0
179
0
0
175
0
0
170
0
0
170
0
0
168
0
0
156
0
0
156
0
0
153
0
0
151
1
0
150
0
0
149
0
0
141
114
0
137
0
0
0
0
0
3
5
0
0
0
11
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
76
0
22
26
25

135
127
114
113
109
90
87
81
77
70
42
26
25

% Adult
% Juvenile
Time
Time
100
0
100
0
100
0
100
0
0
100
100
0
100
0
100
0
0
100
0
100
97
3
100
0
100
0
100
0
5
95
0
100
100
0
100
0
100
100
100
100
95
5

0
0
0
0
5
95

100
100
100

0
0
0

100
100

0
0

66

Appendix E4 - Public Defender Caseloads

Attorney Name
SHEFMAN SCHINDLER, DAUCIE
KRATOVIL, MARK CHARLES
MARTIN, MELISSA
WOOD, SARAH VERNIER
CAMERON, ANGELA L.
SHAPIRO, LEAH
MASELLI WOOD, JANI JO
BUNIN, ALEXANDER
BOURLIOT, FRANCES YOUNG

Juvenile
Capital
Cases
Murder Cases
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

Felony
Cases
0
0
0
0
0
18
0
5
0

Misdemeanor Appeals Total Cases

Cases
Cases
Paid
0
23
23
0
22
22
0
21
21
0
21
21
1
18
19
0
0
18
0
14
14
0
0
5
0
5
5

% Adult
% Juvenile
Time
Time
100
0
95
5
100
0
100
0
100
0
30
70
100
0
95
5
100
0

67

Appendix E5 - Combined Private Attorney Payments and Caseloads

Attorney Name
DICKEY, JEANIE L.
IZAGUIRRE, ABEL
CANTU, JORGE A.
HIGGINBOTHAM, CARY LYNN
HILL, JOSHUA
WALKER, MEKISHA JANE
ABBEY, KIMBERLY DAWN
FLEISCHER, DAVID MARCEL
PRESS, DIONNE SUSAN
AGUIRRE, JUAN JOSE
SAPIEN, MARCO ANTONIO
MCLELLAN, WILLIAM RENE
CONTRERAS, JUAN M.
LIMITONE, ANTHONY V.
BENAVIDES, KELLY DENISE
MOORE, MICHAEL HARDIE
LUDWIG, V. JEFFREY
DIXON, JOHN ARTHUR
ZAMIR, SHAHIN
WISNER, VICTOR JAY
RODRIGUEZ, RAUL
JIMENEZ, JOAQUIN
ARREDONDO, ERNESTO
GUIDRY, ALLEN JOHN
TOUCHSTONE, STEPHEN
EDWARD
VELA, JOSE JULIO
ACOSTA, GERALDO G.
OUGRAH, KRISHNAMURTI S.
GUERINOT, GERARD W.
CLARK, JOHN ARTHUR
CARPENTER, JENNIFER LEE

Juvenile
Cases

Capital Murder
Cases
0
0
0
0
0
0

Felony
Cases
441
0
74

Misdemeanor
Cases
528
873
758

Appeals
Cases
0
0
0

Total Cases
Paid
969
873
832

% Adult % Juvenile
Total Paid
Time
Time
$124,020
65
0
$74,488
65
0
$94,985
75
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

184
22
0
119
0
140
271
0
0
47
0
0
0
0
0
98
209
42
0
0
0

645
736
755
630
745
580
440
704
688
640
676
676
656
655
642
543
427
591
631
629
615

0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

829
759
755
749
745
720
711
704
688
687
676
676
656
655
642
641
636
633
631
629
615

$147,911
$67,100
$67,075
$111,798
$64,550
$105,760
$130,095
$56,200
$69,790
$108,035
$71,200
$60,840
$63,901
$46,140
$45,050
$74,955
$202,822
$81,160
$68,905
$58,895
$46,000

97
75
68
60
100
65
97
60
60
90
80
50
93

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

40
58
60
50
90
70

0
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
306

0
0
0

0
0
274

594
589
0

0
0
0

594
589
580

$51,550
$60,300
$188,395

68
90
45

0
0
45

0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0

0
553
553
0

574
0
0
533

0
0
0
0

574
553
553
533

$42,800
$97,565
$96,380
$51,231

95
40
40
50

0
0
0
0

68

Appendix E5 - Combined Private Attorney Payments and Caseloads

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

Capital Murder
Cases
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0

RICHARDSON, DAN WILLIAM

ALFARO, XAVIER
TRENT, MICHAEL E.
RODRIGUEZ, GILBERTO
SANTOS, RENATO
GONZALEZ, RICARDO N.
ASH, MARK J.
MCCRACKEN, KERRY
HOLLINGSWORTH
ESTRADA, JESSICA REBEKAH
BETTS

0
0
0
0
0
0
0

RODRIGUEZ, FERNANDO JOSE

CARDENAS, ROBERT
VILLAGOMEZ
GUERINOT, EILEEN MARIE
TSIOROS, GREGORY
KHAWAJA, IBRAHIM ELIAS
GARZA, DAVID LAWRENCE
NACHTIGALL, DAVID ALLEN
MCCOY, KENNETH EUGENE
SCHULTZ, NATALIE LYNN
SCOTT, ROBERT R.
JANIK, PAGE E.
CRAWFORD, DENISE MARIA

Attorney Name
MUNIZ, MARJORIE ANN
CRUZ, ROBERT
ACOSTA, SHELIA RIDDLE
BOORSTEIN, BARRY
SHANNON, HATTIE SEWELL
MONTES, LUCIO ANTONIO
ALDAPE, JUAN MANUEL
MACIAS, ALEJANDRO

Juvenile
Cases

Felony
Cases
0
0
0
0
499
0
0
0

Misdemeanor
Cases
525
524
521
508
0
500
491
488

Appeals
Cases
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

Total Cases
Paid
525
524
521
508
500
500
491
488

Total Paid
$52,175
$53,420
$51,950
$38,600
$204,690
$55,565
$51,950
$44,100

% Adult % Juvenile
Time
Time
60
0
35
0
95
0
100
0
99
0
50
0
35
0
80
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0

93
37
318
111
0
428
12

393
438
147
336
431
0
413

0
0
0
0
0
0
0

486
475
465
447
431
428
425

$83,020
$86,732
$218,670
$83,930
$45,865
$397,013
$51,115

90
95
70
90
60
90
40

0
0
0
0
0
0
0

424

424

$89,270

100

142

278

420

$74,120

90

411

411

$44,850

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
0
0

7
398
0
218
367
25
361
32
353
199
186

400
0
398
178
3
345
0
329
0
159
167

0
0
0
0
2
0
2
0
0
0
0

407
398
398
396
372
370
363
361
358
358
353

$40,680
$70,105
$37,950
$78,765
$151,710
$35,470
$125,320
$37,055
$159,350
$49,102
$68,405

25
99
60

0
0
0

85
35
90
98
80
95
85

0
0
0
0
0
0
0

69

Appendix E5 - Combined Private Attorney Payments and Caseloads

Attorney Name
MCLAUGHLIN, TONYA
ROLLAND
GIFFORD, JACQUELINE MOORE
HENLEY, CYNTHIA RUSSELL
GODINICH, JEROME
SEDERIS, STACY ALLEN
CORTES, EDUARDO
BRISTOW, RACHEL CAPOTE
SUAREZ, RICHARD A.
BUSH, MICHELLE WALKER
EMMO
DOEBBLER, TED R.
TREJO, HUMBERTO RENE
CASTILLO, MARK A.
BENAVIDES, ANTONIO
MARSHALL, LUCINDA KAY
LEITNER, CAROL MICHELLE
BURTON, RUTH YVONNE
DESAI, RIDDHI
GUMBERGER, KURT
BISHOP, SUSAN M.
ROLL, RANDOLPH EARL
BROOKS, JAMES M.
BARR, JAMES L.
MARTIN, ANDREW DWIGHT
ACOSTA, JERRY MICHAEL
PARRISH, DAMON
MIRANDA, SERGIO T.
COTLAR, DORIAN CLAUDE
SPROTT, OLIVER WENDELL
BOTELLO, LORI ANN
FLEMING, MARCUS JUSTIN

Juvenile
Cases

Capital Murder
Cases

Felony
Cases

Misdemeanor
Cases

Appeals
Cases

Total Cases
Paid

Total Paid

% Adult
Time

% Juvenile
Time

12

339

351

$34,020

87

0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
3
0
0
0
0

347
0
330
339
8
331
0

0
346
0
0
329
0
331

0
0
6
0
0
0
0

347
346
339
339
337
331
331

$79,225
$27,510
$215,888
$89,454
$37,085
$66,755
$29,450

99
30
98
99
70
100
75

0
0
0
0
0
0
0

328
0
0
315
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
299
0
0
0
286
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0
317
320
0
0
243
148
309
256
309
309
306
303
302
47
0
0
149
288
0
0
284

0
0
0
0
315
70
162
0
53
0
0
0
0
0
254
0
296
141
0
0
286
0

0
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

328
321
320
315
315
313
310
309
309
309
309
306
303
302
301
299
296
290
288
286
286
284

$70,513
$141,745
$92,445
$123,805
$36,970
$93,120
$96,689
$97,283
$92,630
$86,450
$77,280
$77,830
$165,830
$88,145
$30,850
$120,238
$28,440
$89,913
$111,220
$152,866
$31,838
$82,285

0
95
80
0
30
100
95
90
60
99
97
85
90
90
90
0
50
50
60
0
30
80

45
0
0
70
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
85
0
0
0
50
0
0

70

Appendix E5 - Combined Private Attorney Payments and Caseloads

Attorney Name

Juvenile
Cases

Capital Murder
Cases

Felony
Cases

Misdemeanor
Cases

Appeals
Cases

Total Cases
Paid

Total Paid

% Adult
Time

% Juvenile
Time

RANDALL, STEPHEN EDWARD

SAVOY, BRYAN K.

0
0

0
0

0
277

282
0

0
0

282
277

$29,660
$100,025

50
39

0
0

DAVIDSON, LUCIENNE AITKEN

SINCLAIR, NATASHA A.
MEDLEY, DINA A.
PETRUZZI, JOHN MICHAEL
GREENLEE, STEVEN

0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0

273
273
0
269
268

0
0
270
0
0

0
0
0
0
0

273
273
270
269
268

$98,100
$86,100
$31,445
$90,250
$106,890

60
100

0
0

85
75

0
0

MOSELEY, ANN LEE DULEVITZ

RAFIEE, PARIA
CLOUD, CARVANA HICKS
RAMIREZ, ENRIQUE C.
BRUEGGER, ALEXIS GILBERT
HUBBARD, LATREECIA
PRASIFKA, JOSEPH WADE
MILLER, SHERRA DIANN
BECK, MICHELLE E.

0
0
0
0
0
1
241
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

264
157
257
76
252
248
0
240
239

0
106
0
181
0
0
0
0
0

1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0

265
263
258
257
252
249
241
240
239

$87,198
$50,762
$86,800
$74,500
$108,684
$73,325
$102,619
$95,195
$78,935

99
95

0
0

80
95
50
0
98
80

0
0
0
70
0
0

CORNELIUS, WILLIAM TERRELL

SIMOTAS, HELEN
LIPKIN, MARK G.
NOLL, CHARLES A.
MARTINEZ, HERMAN
FOSHER, MICHAEL P.
SALINAS, J. A.
GIFFORD, WILLIAM R.

0
0
127
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0
67
108
233
233
231
229
229

238
171
0
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0

238
238
235
233
233
232
229
229

$25,480
$17,970
$51,565
$95,726
$83,825
$129,470
$191,520
$58,925

100
30
98
30
55
50
95

0
30
0
0
0
0
0

DIXON, WOODROW WILSON I

GARRETT, CASEY
BROWN, CHERYL SHOOKS
PONS, JAMES FRANCISCO
LEWIS, THOMAS JOSEPH

0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0

128
220
0
12
211

101
0
227
214
0

0
7
0
0
8

229
227
227
226
219

$36,525
$112,399
$21,820
$29,010
$93,611

80
75
20
65
85

0
0
0
0
0

71

Appendix E5 - Combined Private Attorney Payments and Caseloads

Attorney Name
MARTIN, STEPHANIE LYNN
TURNBULL, EDWARD
RANDOLPH
OWMBY, JOSEPH S.
VARA, JANE SCOTT
POLLAND, GARY MICHAEL
RUBAL, MARK ALLEN
RUZZO, PATRICK J.
FISHER, DENA
DEANE, SAMUEL HENRY

Juvenile
Cases

Capital Murder
Cases
0
1

Felony
Cases
217

Misdemeanor
Cases

Appeals
Cases
0

Total Cases
Paid
218

% Adult % Juvenile
Total Paid
Time
Time
$106,595
80
0

0
0
0
189
0
0
139
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

215
215
41
20
0
207
65
201

0
0
169
0
207
0
1
0

0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0

215
215
210
209
208
207
205
201

$129,465
$83,323
$37,909
$128,956
$23,650
$118,516
$135,531
$45,715

30
85
50
5
27
85
40
85

0
0
0
35
0
0
48
0

0
0
0

0
0
0

0
198
198

199
0
0

0
0
0

199
198
198

$21,850
$101,907
$91,640

73
90
95

0
0
0

CONTRERAS, JUAN MANUEL

LILES, JOHN STEPHEN
BACKERS, BEVERLY J.
ARNOLD, KEVIN DARNELL
KEYSER, DEBORAH A.
JOHNSON, KYLE B.
SHAPIRO, LISA
THURSLAND, WILLIAM
MICHAEL
AYERS, RANDALL J.
GARCIA, CARLOS ROBERT
STONE, MICHAEL JOHN
ANDREWS, LISA KAY
CRAFT, E. ROSS
GOODE, KENNETH E.

0
189
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0

187
0
196
0
193
188
0

0
7
0
195
0
0
189

11
0
0
0
0
2
0

198
196
196
195
193
190
189

$63,120
$88,420
$68,160
$15,800
$63,000
$109,760
$18,265

90
5
95

0
40
0

98
100
40

0
0
0

187
0
185
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0
180
0
184
184
183
179

0
0
0
0
0
1
0

0
7
0
0
0
0
4

187
187
185
184
184
184
183

$134,624
$133,050
$90,388
$97,170
$72,356
$59,945
$108,855

0
100

23
0

85
40
95
100

0
0
0
0

GRAHAM, SPENCE DOUGLAS

WARREN, BRIAN E
MARTIN, THOMAS ALLAN

0
0
0

0
0
0

181
177
178

0
4
0

0
0
1

181
181
179

$149,599
$40,750
$96,998

90
100
80

0
0
0

PAPANTONAKIS, JOHN PETER

VINAS, JOSEPH FRANCIS
BENKEN, BRIAN A.

72

Appendix E5 - Combined Private Attorney Payments and Caseloads

Attorney Name

Juvenile
Cases

Capital Murder
Cases

Felony
Cases

Misdemeanor
Cases

Appeals
Cases

Total Cases
Paid

Total Paid

% Adult
Time

% Juvenile
Time

DAVIS, SAMANTHA YOLANDA

DEVLIN, ERIC HEADEN
BARNEY, KAREN A.

179
0
0

0
0
0

0
178
178

0
0
0

0
0
0

179
178
178

$46,288
$113,645
$94,705

0
30
90

30
0
0

MORTON, CHRISTOPHER DEAN

BAKER, WENDY
SALAZAR, JOEL EDWARD
GILLMAN, MICHAEL DAVID
NASSIF, MICHAEL PAUL
CASTRO, RAY ANTHONY
NEEDHAM, JESSICA NICOLE
MADRID, MARIO
BUNDICK, CRAIG
MAISEL, JOHN
HINTON, CHARLES
DOUGLAS, LARRY B.

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
161
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
1
0

89
176
175
60
64
166
163
161
163
0
159
156

88
0
0
113
103
0
2
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0

177
176
175
173
167
166
165
164
164
161
160
156

$38,482
$76,893
$38,050
$34,365
$42,490
$86,630
$55,700
$156,670
$56,890
$63,368
$108,805
$51,155

30
50

0
0

49
20
60
100
45
95
0
100
70

0
0
0
0
0
0
25
0
0

TURNER, EQUATOR LAVETTE

BROWN, CHARLES ALLEN
CRAIG, MICHAEL FRANCIS
ISENBERG, MARC DAVID
MAIDA, SAM A.
ONCKEN, KIRK J.
MOORE, MARY C. A.
SEGURA, PATRICIA
SHELTON, PATRICK SCOTT
LEWIS, JORDAN ELLIOTT
CORNELIUS, R. P.
ORTIZ, JIMMY JOE
DODIER, ELIHU H.
SMITH, KEISHA L.
NUNNERY, A. E.
ACOSTA, JAIME GARCIA

0
0
151
150
0
0
0
0
148
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0
4
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
6
1
0
0
5
0

0
147
0
0
150
149
149
145
0
0
141
146
147
145
140
145

155
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
148
0
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0

155
151
151
150
150
149
149
148
148
148
147
147
147
146
145
145

$14,225
$183,790
$45,075
$56,856
$36,323
$66,030
$59,965
$115,098
$61,125
$16,545
$393,708
$173,372
$99,948
$60,169
$263,265
$65,000

95

0
70
97
90
55
2
15
99
60
95
84

80
0
0
0
0
98
0
0
0
0
0

95

73

Appendix E5 - Combined Private Attorney Payments and Caseloads

Attorney Name
AZZO, ALEX G.
DAVIS, MYRON GABRIEL
ILLICH KENNELL, KARLI GAYLE
JOACHIM, CARSON FLYNN

Juvenile
Cases

Capital Murder
Cases
0
0
0
0

Felony
Cases
144
0

Misdemeanor
Cases

Appeals
Cases

0
144

0
0

Total Cases
Paid
144
144

% Adult % Juvenile
Total Paid
Time
Time
$75,840
100
0
$15,465

0
0

0
0

0
0

143
142

0
0

143
142

$13,190
$12,650

20
50

0
0

ABNER, MICHAEL ANTHONY

WELLS, JOE DAVID
ANDERSON, WILFORD A.
SUMMERS, DEBORAH D.
SULLA, JAMIE M.
ST. JULIAN, COURTNEY
FITCH, BONNIE JOYE
KISLUK, BRET STEVEN
CRANE, DONALD M.
WEATHERS, GWENDOLYN

0
0
0
0
0
0
135
0
132
130

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0
140
138
137
137
134
0
132
0
0

142
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
0

0
1
3
3
0
0
0
0
0
0

142
141
141
140
137
137
135
132
132
130

$10,450
$72,760
$53,675
$111,542
$45,145
$41,590
$40,613
$56,480
$20,775
$30,175

30
75
85
90
100
60
0
40
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
30
0
15
40

ESCOBEDO, SYLVIA YVONNE

37

92

129

$53,646

35

10

COULSON, REBECCA STEWART

ROBERTS, BRIAN MARC
WRIGHT, ANDREW
ALEXANDER
VILLARREAL, GILBERTO A.

128
0

0
0

0
127

0
0

0
0

128
127

$26,331
$97,201

0
100

50
0

0
0

0
0

0
126

127
0

0
0

127
126

$10,455
$114,010

10
65

0
0

FRANKLIN, RAMONA NICOLE

CAMPBELL, ANN L.
LUONG, JASON
LOPEZ, BLANCA E.

0
125
0
0

0
0
0
0

0
0
123
122

126
0
1
0

0
0
0
0

126
125
124
122

$12,750
$27,190
$59,783
$63,339

40
0
50
99

0
90
0
0

KOMORN, JANET ELIZABETH

SANCHEZ, WILLIS ROBERT
PUBCHARA, SILVIA V.
NELSON, MITCHEL RYAN

0
117
0
116

0
0
0
0

122
0
116
0

0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0

122
117
116
116

$60,248
$46,263
$35,527
$32,650

90
0
69
0

0
59
0
40

74

Appendix E5 - Combined Private Attorney Payments and Caseloads

Attorney Name
WENTZ, KURT BUDD
ST. JOHN, PAUL
WALKER, SEDRICK TIMOTHY

Juvenile
Cases

Capital Murder
Cases
0
5
85
0
0
0

Felony
Cases
95
27
0

Misdemeanor
Cases
0
0
112

Appeals
Cases
14
0
0

Total Cases
Paid
114
112
112

% Adult % Juvenile
Total Paid
Time
Time
$110,258
85
1
$40,989
50
35
$10,230
69
0

HAYNES, GEMAYEL LOCHON

CASTRO, LIONEL J.
GAISER, TERRENCE A.
REED, JOHN GARNER
MULDROW, LORETTA
JOHNSON
MCANALLY, EVA PATRICIA
PHEA, ANGELA
JEREB, THEODORE B.
DUPONT, THOMAS B.
BALDERAS, ANTONIO
YORK, DOUGLAS RAY
BUSH, PRISCILLA TOMMYE
YOUNGBLOOD, GLENN J.
COULSON, W. MICHAEL
BROUSSARD, ARLAN J.
TRIGG, THEODORE F.
WARRINER, WALLACE F.
DUARTE, RUDY MORIN

0
0
0
104

0
0
3
0

73
0
96
0

34
107
0
0

0
0
6
0

107
107
105
104

$27,123
$7,250
$125,462
$23,450

50
50
60
0

0
0
0
50

0
103
102
102
0
0
100
0
0
98
0
99
98
0

1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3

102
0
0
0
101
100
0
0
99
1
99
0
0
92

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
100
0
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

103
103
102
102
101
100
100
100
99
99
99
99
98
95

$253,750
$22,475
$43,378
$21,175
$71,647
$75,670
$27,200
$8,500
$55,975
$40,910
$32,055
$28,460
$46,476
$82,280

100
0
0
0
50
45

0
38
30
40
0
0

33
100
5
90
0
0
99

0
0
50
0
30
80
0

MERCHANT, FEROZ FAROOK

BROWN, ADAM BANKS
COTTON, GREG L.
ISBELL, ALLEN C.
HUNTER, JONAS LEWIS
SAMPLE, MAITE MARIE
DYSART, JOHN RICHARD

0
0
95
0
93
0
90

2
0
0
6
0
0
0

81
93
0
84
0
0
0

12
0
0
0
0
93
0

0
2
0
4
0
0
0

95
95
95
94
93
93
90

$76,731
$38,033
$25,900
$153,083
$21,275
$9,075
$17,063

65
50
0
85
0
90
0

0
0
40
0
15
0
25

KELBER, KATHRYN WHARTON

MILLER, MANDY GOLDMAN

0
0

0
0

0
85

90
4

0
0

90
89

$14,036
$35,655

30
65

0
0

75

Appendix E5 - Combined Private Attorney Payments and Caseloads

Attorney Name
DE VEGA, GABRIEL M.
LAFON, TOMMY L.
VIJ, VIKRAM

Juvenile
Cases

Capital Murder
Cases
0
0
0
0
0
0

Felony
Cases
0
86
86

Misdemeanor
Cases
88
0
0

Appeals
Cases
0
0
0

Total Cases
Paid
88
86
86

% Adult % Juvenile
Total Paid
Time
Time
$7,850
70
0
$55,030
50
0
$32,440
40
0

SLOPIS, SHARON ELIZABETH

CANNON, JOSEPH P.

0
84

0
0

84
0

0
0

1
0

85
84

$51,735
$38,305

100
0

0
40

CLINE, CYNTHIA JEAN-MARIE

SMITH, JAMES DENNIS
CROWLEY, JAMES SIDNEY
LARSON, KEITH DANIEL
GRAVES, JAMES TUCKER
JORDAN, OLIVIA LIANE
OAKES, NATALIA COKINOS
MOON, TAMMY SIMIEN
VARELA, JOSEPH WILLIAM
RISKIND, MIRIAM JUDITH
SAMPSON, KYLE REEVES
TANNER, ALLEN MARK
RODRIGUEZ, LOURDES
WOOD, HARRIS S.
MILLER, KIMBERLY DENISE
GULAMALI, SHREYA
LOPER, DOUGLAS BRADLEY
HALE, JEFFREY KARL
MUSICK-LONG, JOANNE
MARIE
PODOLSKY, BRETT A.
HAYES, RONALD NELSON
CLEMENTS, MARTHA JANE
STOOL, ANNA E.
BONHAM, TRACIE D.
MCCULLOUGH, ELLIS C.
ROGERS, ALVIS O.

0
0
0
0
0
0
80
80
0
78
0
0
0
0
0
0
37
0

0
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0

84
84
75
81
80
80
0
0
67
0
25
73
75
74
74
68
35
72

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
0
53
0
0
0
0
6
0
0

0
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

84
84
82
81
80
80
80
80
78
78
78
76
75
74
74
74
72
72

$38,245
$34,670
$64,760
$27,431
$42,330
$39,520
$35,776
$15,875
$67,940
$20,393
$10,570
$158,249
$8,632
$72,768
$30,805
$24,840
$37,523
$32,109

75
30
57
70
75
90
0
0
90
0
40
100
95
45
85
90
30
90

0
0
0
0
2
0
80
10
0
65
0
0
0
0
0
0
10
0

15
0
0
0
69
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

56
70
70
70
0
0
68
65

0
0
0
0
0
68
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

71
70
70
70
69
68
68
65

$19,685
$37,165
$28,820
$15,077
$15,790
$42,708
$40,613
$13,820

55
95
100
98
0

10
5
0
0
15

100
75

0
0

76

Appendix E5 - Combined Private Attorney Payments and Caseloads

Attorney Name
NEWMAN, LOUIS MURAT
NEUMANN, RUSSELL ALLEN
EASTERLING, DANNY KARL
LAIRD, JULES L.
RADOSEVICH, THOMAS A.
WASHINGTON, TYRONE
WILLIAM
SCHULTE, NATHAN JOSEPH
PIERCE, TAMI CHERI
JONES, JOLANDA F.
MACK, LORI DEE
SEDITA, PATRICIA FORTNEY

Juvenile
Cases
0
62
0
0
0

Capital Murder
Cases
0
0
5
0
0

Felony
Cases
63
0
52
61
45

0
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0

Misdemeanor
Cases

Appeals
Cases

0
0
0
0
16

0
0
4
0
0

Total Cases
Paid
63
62
61
61
61

0
0
0
55
0
48

58
58
57
0
55
0

0
0
0
0
0
6

58
58
57
55
55
54

$4,800
$4,565
$5,090
$30,585
$4,850
$60,994

30
10
50
88
70

0
0
1
0
0

75
20

0
0

0
95
90
100
50
40

15
5
0
0
0
60

40

85
7

0
0

100
0

0
33

Total Paid
$37,877
$15,500
$262,250
$31,028
$25,875

DETOTO, RICHARD GREGORY

JONES, DAVID A.
LEITNER, JAMES MICHAEL
BIGGAR, STACI DIAN
RENFRO, MICHAEL D.
ORUAGA, DOROTHY
EJEDAFETA
GRABER, JERALD KAPLAN
ALEXANDER, ROBERT F.
GLASS, JAMES GREGORY
SECREST, ALLISON ANNE
BATCHAN, JOHN W.
SHELTON, EMILY ANDREA
THOMAS, ROBERT E.
CANTRELL, DONALD R.
SALHAB, JOSEPH
PRUETT, CARL R.

0
0
0
0
0

0
0
1
0
0

52
0
49
46
49

0
51
0
4
0

0
0
0
0
0

52
51
50
50
49

$44,460
$5,100
$22,378
$7,743
$14,600

49
0
0
0
0
47
0
44
0
0
0

0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0

0
41
48
47
29
0
0
0
41
37
0

0
0
0
0
18
0
46
0
0
0
41

0
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
3
0

49
48
48
47
47
47
46
44
43
41
41

$14,156
$90,095
$8,285
$61,545
$21,548
$12,025
$7,836
$4,738
$48,825
$66,946
$4,975

TOWNSEND, MICHELLE RUTH

KEIRNAN, JOHN PATRICK
GLICK, EVAN B.

0
0
38

0
2
0

14
36
0

23
0
0

2
0
0

39
38
38

$10,593
$81,523
$25,629

% Adult % Juvenile
Time
Time
60
0
0
15
50
0
80
0
50
5

77

Appendix E5 - Combined Private Attorney Payments and Caseloads

0
0
0
35
0
32
32
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
27

Capital Murder
Cases
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
0
0
0
0

Felony
Cases
35
36
0
0
27
0
0
27
23
29
24
27
28
27
0

DAVIDSON, CLINT PAUL ROYCE

BROOKS, LOTT JOSEPH
HILL, CHARLES ERNEST
STRYKER, KEVIN BRADLEY

0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0

WILLIAMS, CONNIE BROWN

MCGEE, ANDREW G.
SMITH, JAMES RANDALL
GOMMELS, PHILIP MICHAEL
MUNOZ, MANUEL
HUGHES, DALLAS CRAIG
SUMMERLIN, ROBERT EARL
DUONG, JOHN D.
MALAZZO, BEVERLY
BRADEMAN
BOURQUE, GERALD E.

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

BEEDLE, NATHAN NATHANIEL

Attorney Name
BORG, LEAH M.
HANSEN, R. K.
KEMP, JAPAULA C.
PEREZ, JOHN J.
MILLER, GARY SCHAFFER
FISHER, RAYMOND LAMAR
MARSH, JEFFREY H.
WILLIAMS, CLYDE HILL
SMITH, KELLY ANN
PLAUT, BENJAMIN B.
MONCRIFFE, TYRONE C.
DIGGS, CHERYL HARRIS
LOCKLEAR, TROY SCOTT
CONNORS, CLAIRE TERESA
FISCHER, BRIAN JOSEPH

Juvenile
Cases

Misdemeanor
Cases

Appeals
Cases

0
0
36
0
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0

2
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
6
0
0
0
0
0
0

Total Cases
Paid
37
36
36
35
32
32
32
30
29
29
28
28
28
27
27

% Adult % Juvenile
Total Paid
Time
Time
$24,346
90
0
$26,502
76
0
$2,500
33
0
$6,100
$13,220
32
0
$7,275
10
30
$6,100
$31,100
95
0
$37,485
80
0
$9,237
85
0
$132,040
95
0
$24,757
75
0
$13,420
90
3
$66,188
90
0
$15,000
0
35

26
12
24
24

0
13
0
0

0
0
0
0

26
25
24
24

$11,836
$12,405
$12,710
$5,025

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

23
0
0
19
0
18
16
0

0
22
20
0
19
0
0
16

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

23
22
20
19
19
18
16
16

$26,730
$2,550
$2,650
$11,995
$4,425
$12,096
$6,627
$3,100

0
0

0
4

0
11

16
0

0
0

16
15

15

15

40
15
40
11

0
0
0
0

15
10
17

0
0
0

5
10
20

0
0
0

$2,000
$203,055

5
10

0
0

$1,350

78

Appendix E5 - Combined Private Attorney Payments and Caseloads

Attorney Name
MCALISTER, SEAN TIMOTHY
MORAN, THOMAS DONALD
OSSO, ANTHONY
MELAMED, SANFORD
BALDWIN, SHANNON
BRICHELLE
MORROW, ROBERT A.
CROW, JULIANE PHILLIPS
LINTON, CRESPIN MICHAEL

Juvenile Capital Murder

Cases
Cases
14
0
0
0
0
3
0
0

Felony
Cases

Misdemeanor
Cases

Appeals
Cases

0
12
9
12

0
0
0
0

0
1
0
0

Total Cases
Paid
14
13
12
12

% Adult % Juvenile
Total Paid
Time
Time
$7,003
0
5
$12,820
35
0
$115,309
$2,035

0
0
10
0

0
5
0
0

11
4
0
8

0
0
0
0

0
1
0
1

11
10
10
9

$5,716
$158,876
$6,275
$7,940

30
35
0
10

0
0
5
0

MCKNIGHT, LINDSEY MERWIN

LE, TOT KIM
STAFFORD, JAMES T.
WYBORNY, DAVID ALAN
SPJUT, DAN JEFFREY
KING, VIVIAN R.
MCCANN, PATRICK F.
CONNOLLY, WILLIAM B.
SOLIZ, ITZE OLGA MARIA
LOPER, ROBERT KENT
RAMSEY, ROBERT SCOTT
SUHLER, DAVID ROBERT
WILLIAMS, QUENTIN TATE
JACKSON, ERIN LARENA
JONES, HAZEL BEATRICE
LINDSEY, LAINE D.
KENNEDY, PAUL BRIAN
DIETZ, C. LOGAN

0
0
0
0
8
0
0
6
6
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
2
0
0
2
4
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

9
0
6
8
0
4
1
0
0
4
4
5
5
5
4
4
4
4

0
9
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

9
9
8
8
8
7
6
6
6
5
5
5
5
5
4
4
4
4

$5,140
$250
$81,960
$2,625
$1,350
$57,560
$116,225
$10,150
$1,400
$50,750
$4,955
$4,155
$1,770
$903
$7,847
$6,388
$3,435
$1,575

25
5
40
10

0
0
0
0

16
40
0

0
0
18

45
15
30
9
8
14
10
5

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

HORAK, MATTHEW PATRICK

UNGER, HILARY DIANE
CLEVENGER, GEORGE T.

0
0
4

0
0
0

4
4
0

0
0
0

0
0
0

4
4
4

$875
$875
$325

5
10

0
0

PASTORINI, WINIFRED AKINS

$54,670

25

79

Appendix E5 - Combined Private Attorney Payments and Caseloads

Attorney Name
GRAY, LORI CHAMBERS
ROE, CARMEN MAE
MONKS, J. MICHAEL
MUNIER, MARIE
DURHAM, DOUGLAS M.
PARKS, CALVIN DESHON
BAILEY, CAROL L.
LIGON, ANDRE
JONES, RODNEY ROBERT
UHRAN, CRAIG WILLIAM
ANINAO, V. ANTONIO
MCCLELLAN, BRYAN LYN
REDDI, ASHA
SACHDEVA, NEELU
CAMPBELL, JAMES REESE
PALMER, MICHAEL
HILL, WAYNE T.
SCARDINO, KATHERINE
MAYR, THOMAS BRANTON
RHODES, HARRY WHEELER
ELIADES, ROSA ALEXANDER
RANDALL, BE'ATRICE
MICHELLE
JOHNSON, THOMAS LEE
MCENRUE, MICHAEL A.
BARNETT, STEPHANIE

Juvenile
Cases
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0

Capital Murder
Cases
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0

1
0
0
0

0
0
0
0

Felony
Cases

Misdemeanor
Cases

Appeals
Cases

Total Cases
Paid

3
0
0
3
1
2
0
2
0
2
2
0
2
2
2
0
1
0
0
0
0

0
0
3
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0

0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1

3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1

0
1
0
0

0
0
0
1

0
0
1
0

1
1
1
1

% Adult % Juvenile
Total Paid
Time
Time
$1,750
50
0
$1,155
$400
$250
75
0
$56,260
50
0
$2,290
2
0
$2,175
$2,125
$1,650
$1,450
5
0
$1,250
70
0
$1,150
$1,000
$250
100
0
$250
5
0
$150
$16,000
5
0
$9,825
28
0
$6,019
0
0
$1,875
0
20
$1,500
$1,204
$715
$143
$100

22
15
1

0
0
0

80