House Bill 586

Chair�s Name: David Ralston

Committee: Judiciary Non-civil

House Sponsor: David Ralston

If the GA Public Defender is unable to defend an indigent defendant accused of a capital felony for which the death penalty is being sought, HB 586 limits the number of attorneys, from an undisclosed number to two, which a superior court judge may assign as �counsel.�  HB 586 allows a county to provide supplemental compensation to the appointed counsel, in addition to the rate established by the council with the state.  The presiding judge may appoint up to one additional attorney; however, that attorney shall be paid by the county with county funds at a rate established by the council. 

The committee substitute received a Do Pass recommendation from the Judiciary Non-civil Committee and comes to the House Floor under the Open Rule.

Chairman Ralston�s opinion of this legislation:

WHAT PROBLEM/OPPORTUNITY DOES THIS LEGISLATION ADDRESS?

Who pays for private attorneys hired attorneys to defend death penalty cases.

WHAT IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THIS LEGISLATION?

Budget concerns regarding the Public Defender Standards Council