Gilbert v. Superior Court

Opinion

SCOTT, J.

This petition, filed by a criminal defense attorney, challenges the trial court’s reduction of his compensation as appointed counsel. He was originally appointed at $75 per hour and $750 per day of trial, but after trial the court reduced his total compensation from approximately $78,000 to under $40,000. The final compensation was based upon a county bar association fee schedule for its criminal defense panel, rather than upon the original fees set by the court. We conclude that the court erred in reducing petitioner’s fees after he had performed his services.

John Robert…