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Assigned Counsel: discovery reforms and higher 18‑B rates push up public‑defense costs; new state aid trims county share
Summary
The county’s Assigned Counsel office told legislators increased defense costs tied to higher statutory 18‑B rates and discovery reforms have raised the mandated budget baseline. The office said recently announced state aid will reduce the county’s 2026 local share by roughly $300,000 compared with the initial recommendation in the budget book.
Lance Salisbury, director of the county Assigned Counsel program, told the Expanded Budget Committee that statewide changes — higher 18‑B hourly rates for assigned counsel and discovery‑reform requirements that increase attorney workload — pushed 2024 costs to a new baseline. Salisbury said many trial filings and discovery obligations are increasing attorney hours billed…
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