Kelly v. Justice Administrative Commission

KELLY, Judge.

Edward J. Kelly seeks certiorari review of an order awarding him $4000 in attorney’s fees for his representation of an indigent criminal defendant, instead of the $20,895 he requested. Kelly contends the trial court departed from the essential requirements of the law in limiting his fees without making a finding as to the reasonable number of hours he worked in representing his client. We agree.

In awarding fees to an attorney appointed pursuant to statute, the trial court must find that appointed counsel reasonably expended a certain number of hours in representing the indigent…