State v. Horton

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Hall, J.

This appeal challenges as inadequate the compensation awarded to attorneys assigned by the Bergen County Court to represent an indigent defendant on the trial of his indictment for murder. Resolution of the question turns on the scope and meaning of “reasonable compensation,” ordered by our rules to be allowed for legal services to indigents “in cases of murder” (B. B. 1:12-9 (d)) and directed by statute (N. J. 8. 2A :163-1) to be paid by the county from public funds upon the certificate of the judge fixing the amount. The issue is novel.

Herbert…