Title
Resolution to Approve Professional Legal Services Agreement with Reiser and Dawid, P.L.L.C. to Provide Legal Representation as Court-appointed Counsel to Indigent Defendants. ($62,432.16)
Memorandum
Attached for your review and approval is a resolution to approve a Professional Legal Services Agreement with Reiser and Dawid, P.L.L.C. to provide legal representation to indigent persons charged with misdemeanor offenses, who appear in the 15th Judicial District Court judges’ courtrooms.
Budget/Fiscal Impact: Funds for these services are available in the approved FY21 Court budget. No additional funding is requested at this time.
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 & Dawid, P.L.L.C. has experience providing these services.
The proposed Agreement is for a three-month period, July 1, 2020, through September 30, 2020. This Agreement will cover the timeframe between the start of City FY21 and the end of the current Michigan Indigent Defense Commission grant.
Staff
Prepared by: Shryl Samborn, Court Administrator, 15th Judicial District Court
Approved by: Tom Crawford, Interim 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 FY21 Budget;
Whereas, Reiser and Dawid, P.L.L.C. is an appropriate and skilled provider of such services; and
Whereas, Reiser and Dawid, P.L.L.C. complies with the requirements of the City’s Nondiscrimination and Living Wage ordinances;
RESOLVED, That City Council approve the attached Professional Legal Services Agreement with Reiser and Dawid, P.L.L.C. to provide Court-appointed counsel for indigent defendants appearing in the 15th Judicial District Court in the amount of $62,432.16;
RESOLVED, That the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized and directed to execute the Agreement 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 including execution of any documents or amendments that do not exceed the amounts authorized herein.