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Van Zandt County struggles to recruit juvenile defense attorneys at current pay rates
Summary
County officials said indigent juvenile defense had been hard to staff at the county’s hourly rate; commissioners discussed raising hourly rates from $80 and noted nearby counties’ rates and retention problems.
Van Zandt County commissioners discussed a shortage of attorneys willing to take juvenile indigent-defense appointments at the county’s current pay rate.
Presenters said the county historically paid $60 per hour for many indigent-defense assignments but raised that to $80; despite the increase, the county had difficulty recruiting attorneys to its roster. Officials noted neighboring counties pay higher rates (one example cited a $100 hourly rate in nearby jurisdictions) and that local courts sometimes lack sufficient attorneys on the appointed list.
Commissioners discussed whether further increases (for example to $90 per hour) would help populate the roster and reduce delays, and they noted that certain juvenile defense work is handled under fixed-fee contracts in some cases. The county also noted that the new youth-emergency coordinator and related diversion efforts may reduce the number of cases needing appointed counsel, but it remains early to quantify any offset.
No formal change to hourly rates was adopted; staff were directed to continue recruiting and return with further analysis of rate changes and budget impact.
