LASC: URGENT CALL FOR ATTORNEYS TO REPRESENT INDIGENT DEFENDANTS IN APPELLATE DIVISION

“There can be no equal justice where the kind of an appeal a [person] enjoys ‘depends on the amount of money [they] have.’” – California Supreme Court1

Presiding Judge of the Appellate Division Patti Jo McKay today reiterated the Court’s urgent need for attorneys to serve on the Appellate Division’s Panel of Appointed Attorneys to represent indigent defendants who seek to appeal judgments rendered in misdemeanor cases.

“The 14th Amendment demands equal legal representation for both rich and poor at every significant stage of a case, including on appeal,” said Judge McKay. “The Court is at risk of delaying justice to its most vulnerable litigants without the expert assistance of attorneys ready and willing to serve on this critical panel.”

APPOINTED ATTORNEYS:

Upon Appellate Division approval, appointed attorneys are compensated by the Professional Appointee Court Expenditure (PACE) program at a rate of $83/hour and are appointed to represent indigent defendants via alphabetical rotation. Occasionally, and in the interest of judicial economy and efficiency, an attorney may be appointed out of order when there is a related pending appeal for the same defendant.

PREREQUISITES:

Attorneys interested in an appointment to represent indigent defendants are required to:

• Be a member in good standing of the California State Bar;
• Possess strong research and writing skills;
• Have an understanding of criminal law and procedure;
• Be familiar with the appeals process, including the California Rules of Court and the Los Angeles Superior Court Local Rules governing misdemeanor appeals; and
• Commit to adhering to the PACE policies and protocols.

APPLICATION MATERIALS:

Attorneys who meet the prerequisites should prepare the following:

• A cover letter detailing their education, training and experience in handling criminal law cases, including jury and court trials, and appeals;
• A current resume with references; and
• Two recent writing samples.

Please mail the above application materials to:

Patti Jo McKay
Presiding Judge, Appellate Division
Stanley Mosk Courthouse, Room 607
Los Angeles Superior Court
111 N. Hill St.
Los Angeles, CA 90020
Attn: Aida (Evelyn) Vallejo

After a review of the submitted materials, the selected attorneys will be notified by U.S. mail.

You can view the full notice here.