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Department director, new public defender and billing changes highlighted at board meeting
Summary
Executive Director Peter Handy confirmed his appointment and said the department is recruiting a new deputy director; the board heard about new appointed-counsel rates, forthcoming billing guidelines and training plans, and welcomed Andrew Coates as Nevada State Public Defender.
The State of Nevada Department of Indigent Defense (DIDS) told its board on Feb. 6 that it is formalizing several administrative changes, including leadership appointments, updated billing guidance for appointed counsel and new hourly rates.
Executive Director Peter Handy, introduced at the meeting as the department’s executive director, said he has been appointed to the role and that the department is seeking a replacement for deputy director, with interviews scheduled. Handy said the department has been working with attorneys to develop new billing guidelines and will update forms to collect sufficient information to expedite reviews and improve data archives. "We hope to get this promulgated and out to the attorneys sometime this month," Handy said, and staff will offer training sessions for attorneys and their staff.
Board members were informed the standard appointed-counsel rate increased on Jan. 1, 2025 to $175 per hour for non-death-penalty cases and $223 per hour for capital cases. Deputy Director Brenda Roberts described training and pipeline efforts including the LASSO extern program (five law student recipients for FY25), recruiting events with the Pacific Northwest Consortium of Law Schools, and an April 2–4 annual conference with Nevada Attorneys for Criminal Justice hosting a reception.
The board also discussed a request (not yet submitted) for an Attorney General opinion about whether the board may retain outside counsel and who would pay for that representation; DAG Todd Weiss said a formal written request must come from the chair before the AG’s office will issue an opinion. Members described past concerns about potential conflicts involving gubernatorial appointments and said an AG opinion would clarify authority and funding options.
What happens next: DIDS expects to promulgate billing guidelines and schedule training in the near term; the deputy director vacancy will be filled following interviews, and the board will decide whether to send a formal AG opinion request if the chair elects to do so.
