Title
Resolution to Approve Professional Legal Services Contract with Reiser and Frushour, P.L.L.C. to Provide Legal Representation as Court-appointed Counsel to Indigent Defendants ($200,000.00)
Memorandum
Attached for your review and approval is a resolution to approve a professional legal services contract with Reiser and Frushour, P.L.L.C. to provide legal representation to indigent persons charged with misdemeanor offenses in the 15th Judicial District Court.
Budget/Fiscal Impact: Indigent counsel representation is budgeted at $240,000.00 in the FY 2015 budget. The budgeted amount less the current contract extension (R-14-199) amount of $40,000.00 leaves a balance of $200,000.00 for use toward this contract. Additional funding is not requested.
The 15th Judicial District Court is required by law to appoint attorneys to represent indigent defendants when potential sanctions (including sanctions for violations of court orders) upon conviction may include incarceration. Reiser & Frushour, P.L.L.C. currently provides these services.
The City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP 904) for indigent legal services to provide legal counsel to indigent defendants in the 15th Judicial District Court. Reiser & Frushour, P.L.L.C. were selected from a pool of three prospective firms that responded to RFP 904. A selection committee, comprised of the 15th Judicial District Court Judges, reviewed the proposals to rank the respondents. The selection committee chose Reiser & Frushour, P.L.L.C. based on their qualifications, past experience, ease of accessibility of office location by clients, and the ability of the firm to meet or exceed the requirements defined in RFP 904.
The proposed agreement provides for payment to Reiser & Frushour, P.L.L.C. for legal representation in the amount of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) for the term of September 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015.
Reiser and Frushour, P.L.L.C. received Human Rights approval on June 27, 2014 and complies with the City living wage requirement.
Staff
Prepared by: Shryl Samborn, Court Administrator, 15th Judicial District Court
Approved by: Steven D. Powers, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, Persons charged with misdemeanor violations for which incarceration may be imposed are entitled to legal representation;
Whereas, Persons who are determined by the 15th Judicial District Court to be indigent have the right to have counsel appointed by the Court to represent them at public expense;
Whereas, Funds for Court-appointed counsel for indigent persons have been approved in the 15th Judicial District Court's FY 2015 Budget; and
Whereas, Reiser and Frushour, PLLC received Human Rights approval on June 27, 2014 and complies with the City living wage requirement;
RESOLVED, That City Council approve a professional legal services contract with Reiser and Frushour, PLLC to provide Court-appointed counsel for indigent defendants appearing in the 15th Judicial District Court in the amount of $200,000.00 for the term of September 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015;
RESOLVED, That the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized and directed to execute the amendment following approval as to form by the City Attorney and as to substance by the City Administrator; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator take all necessary administrative actions to implement this resolution.