Duke v. State

311 Ga. 135

FINAL COPY S20A1522. DUKE v. THE STATE. MELTON, Chief Justice. We granted interlocutory review in this case1 to decide whether the trial court erred in determining that an indigent defendant in a criminal case who is represented by private, pro bono counsel has neither a statutory right under the Indigent Defense Act of 2003, OCGA § 17-12-1 et seq. (“IDA”), nor a constitutional right to state- funded experts and investigators needed to prepare a defense. Contrary to the trial court’s conclusion, the IDA allows an indigent defendant to obtain such ancillary defense services through…