State v. Young

OPINION

CHÁVEZ, Chief Justice.

{1} The issue in this case is whether indigent defendants accused of capital crimes are unconstitutionally deprived of effective assistance of counsel when their counsel are inadequately compensated. Under the specific facts and circumstances of this case, we find that counsel for the defendants are inadequately compensated, and as such defendants are deprived of the effective assistance of counsel. Defendants have asked us to consider three different remedies: (1) allow their attorneys to withdraw; (2) order the State to compensate counsel at a reasonable hourly…