La. Admin. Code tit. 22 § XV-1713

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section XV-1713 - Factors to be Considered in Development of a Service Restriction Plan

A. Recognition of Diversity of Districts

1. Individual districts have different public defender service delivery methods, funding levels, caseloads, workloads and staff. As a result, service restriction plans should be tailored to each district. In some districts, restricting misdemeanor representation may be the appropriate step, while in others; districts may no longer be able to handle capital cases. However, to the extent possible, all service restriction plans should reflect that the district will continue representation of existing clients.

B. Non-Attorney Support Staff

1. In preparing the final service restriction plan for a district, the district defender and board staff should attempt to preserve the district's support staff to the extent possible.

C. Public Defender Service Provider Considerations

1. Public defender service providers' workloads must be controlled so that all matters can be handled competently. If workloads prevent public defender service providers' from providing competent representation to existing clients, public defender service providers must neither be allowed nor required to accept new clients.

2. Reasonable communications between public defender service providers and their clients are necessary for clients to participate effectively in their representation.

3. Loyalty and independent judgment are essential elements in public defender service providers' client relationships. Conflicts of interest can arise from the public defender service providers' responsibilities to other clients, former clients, third persons or from the public defender service providers' own interest. Loyalty to clients is impaired when a public defender service provider cannot consider, recommend, or carry out appropriate courses of action for clients because of the public defender service providers' other responsibilities or interests.

La. Admin. Code tit. 22, § XV-1713

Promulgated by the Office of the Governor, Public Defender Board, LR 38:816 (March 2012).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 15:148.