State Public Defender v. Iowa District Court for Johnson County

TERNUS, Justice.

The issue in this case is whether the district court had authority to consider a tardy motion to review the state public defender’s decision on an attorney fee claim. We hold it did not, and therefore we sustain a writ of certiorari challenging the court’s ruling on the late-filed motion.

I. Background. Attorney Alan Bohan-an represented an indigent mother in a child-in-need-of-assistance case. Upon completion of the case, he filed a claim for payment of his fees with the state public defender. See Iowa Code § 13B.4(4)(c) (2001) (providing for state public defender’s approval…