Maynes v. Commonwealth

Opinion of the Court by

Justice ABRAMSON.

Kentucky Revised Statute (KRS) 23A.205 provides that persons convicted of a crime in Circuit Court shall pay court costs of $100.00. The statute allows court costs to be waived for “poor persons,” as that term is defined in KRS 453.190(2), the in forma pauperis statute. KRS 31.110 provides that “needy persons” facing serious criminal charges are entitled to representation by an attorney at public expense. Should “needy” persons under the latter statute automatically be immune from the court costs imposed by KRS 23A.205? The Court of Appeals said they…