State Public Defender v. Iowa District Court for Warren County

SNELL, Justice.

This is a certiorari action brought by the State Public Defender challenging the legality of the district court’s award of court-appointed attorney’s fees. It contends the court could not award fees at a higher hourly rate than that specified in the attorney’s contract to provide indigent defense. We find the court was required to adhere to the forty-five dollar contract rate and was not authorized to approve a higher amount. Accordingly, we sustain the writ and remand the case for entry of a fee award consistent with this opinion.

I. Background Facts and Proceedings

Attorney Ken…