Riley County approves six-contract indigent defense panel at $82,000 per attorney

The Riley County Commission on Jan. 2 approved contracts to form a six-attorney indigent defense panel, authorizing the board chair to sign separate two-year agreements that set base compensation at $82,000 per contracting attorney.

The contracts re-establish a panel the court will use to appoint counsel for defendants who cannot afford representation in cases not covered by the state, including misdemeanors with possible jail time and child-in-need-of-care proceedings. Brian Parker, county counselor, told the commission the judge and court staff had reviewed the proposed panel and that all six attorneys had returned signed contracts ready for the board’s approval.

Parker said the county issued a request for proposals and received responses that were adjusted after negotiations; the primary changes were shortening the term from three years to two and narrowing reimbursable expenses to unavoidable costs such as mandatory training. Parker presented the contracts as consistent with the court’s needs and said a seventh attorney who submitted a response will be available for appointments when conflicts arise.

Commissioners asked about the county’s historical spending on indigent defense; staff said annual costs have been in the upper $400,000 range and that the new panel arrangement should be roughly revenue neutral while improving predictability and court functioning. The board chair moved approval and the motion passed unanimously.

The contracts take effect after signature. The commission’s authorization directs the chair to sign each of the six separate agreements.

Votes at the meeting show the motion passed with all present commissioners voting in favor. No additional financial offsets or implementation tasks were specified in the meeting record.