Attorney General Opinion No.

The Honorable Steven A. Jensen Paola Municipal Judge 13 South Pearl Paola, Kansas 66071

Dear Mr. Jensen:

As Municipal Judge for the City of Paola, you inquire whether a municipal court judge may require attorneys to represent indigent defendants charged with violations of municipal ordinances. If so, you inquire whether a municipal court judge has the authority to hold a noncompliant attorney in contempt.

K.S.A. 12-4405 provides, in part:

"If the municipal judge has reason to believe that, if found guilty, the accused person might be deprived of his or her liberty and is not financially able to…