Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 22 - CORRECTIONS, CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
Part XV - Public Defender Board
Chapter 9 - Capital Defense Guidelines
Section XV-911 - Assignment of Counsel

1. In each capital case the person or organization responsible for assigning counsel pursuant to §905 shall assign specific attorneys to each case and not an office, organization or group of attorneys. At least one appropriately certified attorney shall be assigned as lead counsel and at least one appropriately certified attorney shall be assigned as associate counsel. Additional counsel may be assigned when necessary or appropriate and assignments may be changed, subject to maintaining continuing compliance with these guidelines.

1. An attorney may only be assigned if he or she is currently certified in the appropriate role, is conflict free, meets the workload requirements of these guidelines and can be compensated in accordance with these guidelines. Assignments of attorneys must be made so as to meet the requirements of these guidelines, including §913

1. Counsel shall be assigned to each defendant who is eligible to receive public defender services at the earliest possible opportunity following arrest and, wherever possible, prior to appearance under C. Cr. P. art. 230.1. Counsel shall be assigned no later than 48 hours after the time for appearance under C. Cr. P. art. 230.1.

2. Where an eligible capital defendant is arrested outside of Louisiana, the district public defender in the district in which the offense is alleged to have occurred will immediately assign counsel.

3. Counsel may be assigned prior to arrest where the capital defendant is an existing client of a public defender service or where the defendant seeks assistance in surrendering him or herself to police.

4. Counsel shall not be assigned to a defendant who indicates that he does not wish to receive public defender services. With the consent of the defendant, public defender services may be provided while a defendant considers whether he or she desires to receive public defender services.

1. Where counsel is assigned prior to a formal finding of eligibility it is counsel's responsibility to immediately confer with the defendant to confirm his or her desire to receive public defender services unless this has already occurred.

1. Assignments in cases where there exists a conflict of interest will occur in accordance with the Capital Representation Plan and §905 Any person or organization unable to perform the assignment function due to a conflict of interest must immediately act to ensure that the appropriate non-conflicted authority may make the assignment.

1. Assignments in cases where the responsible person or organization is unable to assign counsel due to a lack of appropriately qualified and available counsel will occur in accordance with the Capital Representation Plan. Any person or organization unable to make an assignment due to a lack of available counsel must immediately act under the Capital Representation Plan to ensure that the appropriate authority may make the assignment.

1. Where a capital defendant seeks to proceed without counsel, counsel is obliged to continue to represent the client in accordance with these guidelines and the performance standards until the motion for self-representation is granted. This obligation will include: investigating the competency of the client; the capacity of the client to knowingly, voluntarily and intelligently waive the right to the assistance of counsel; and the capacity of the client to engage in self-representation. Where appropriate, counsel should oppose the defendant's motion. Where appropriate, counsel should seek review of a trial court decision granting a capital defendant's motion for self-representation.

2. Where a capital defendant is proceeding pro se and the court permits or requires standby counsel, attorneys shall be assigned under these guidelines. Where attorneys are assigned to act as standby counsel a defense team shall be assembled consistent with §913 and be prepared to assume representation of the defendant should the court so order. Standby counsel has an ongoing obligation to monitor the capital defendant's competency, the quality of his waiver and his ability to represent himself and to bring such matters to the attention of the court where appropriate.

1. Where the persons or organizations identified in the capital representation plan responsible for assignment of counsel are unable to assign counsel, the district public defender and the state public defender shall be immediately notified. Where the district public defender and the state public defender are also unable to assign counsel, the state public defender shall immediately cause to be filed with the relevant court a notice that counsel cannot be assigned at this time.

2. In such cases, the state public defender shall assign capitally certified counsel for the limited purpose of protecting the capital defendant's rights, including pursuing a halt of the prosecution.

3. Where counsel cannot be assigned to a case under this Section, the state public defender and district public defender shall have an ongoing responsibility to identify counsel suitable for assignment to the case.

1. The district public defender or state public defender, as appropriate, shall review all assignments of attorneys in open capital cases made within his or her jurisdiction prior to the adoption of these guidelines by the board. Within six months of the adoption of these guidelines the district public defender or state public defender, as appropriate, shall take such action as is necessary to ensure that the assignment of attorneys in each such case has been brought into compliance with these guidelines.