Kitsap County v. Moore

— Indigent defendants have a right to appointed counsel on appeal from courts of limited jurisdiction to superior court. Traditionally, local governments pay those fees, as well as the other costs of representation. Kitsap County and the City of Bremerton (Kitsap and Bremerton) are seeking a writ of mandamus requiring the director of the Office of Public Defense to reimburse those expenses incurred since 1996 and requiring a commitment to pay those expenses in the future. Kitsap and Bremerton contend RCW 4.88.330 demonstrates a legislative intent to commit the state (as opposed to the local…