632.415. Court to maintain register of attorneys available to represent patients--state to pay certain attorney's fees.
Court to maintain register of attorneys available to representpatients--state to pay certain attorney's fees.
632.415. 1. The judge having probate jurisdiction in each countywhere a mental health program is located shall prepare and maintain acurrent register of attorneys who have agreed to be appointed to representrespondents against whom involuntary civil detention proceedings have beeninstituted in such county. The judge may choose lawyers who are paid byany public or private agency or other lawyers who are appointed to theregister. The register shall be provided to the mental health coordinatorfor the area which includes the county for which the list was prepared. Anew register shall be provided to the mental health coordinator each time anew attorney is added.
2. If the judge finds that the respondent is unable to pay attorney'sfees for the services rendered in the proceedings, the judge shall allow areasonable attorney's fee for the services, which fee shall be assessed ascosts and paid together with all other costs in the proceeding by thestate, in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the statecourt administrator, from funds appropriated to the office ofadministration for such purposes provided that no attorney's fees shall beallowed for services rendered by any attorney who is a salaried employee ofa public agency or a private agency which receives public funds.
(L. 1980 H.B. 1724, A.L. 1996 S.B. 884 & 841)CROSS REFERENCE:
Alcohol and drug abuse, respondent's rights, court's duties, RSMo 631.175