Subdivision 1.Authorization.

(a) The supreme court, through the lawyer registration office, may assess a public defender fee on each licensed attorney in the state. If imposed, the fee must not be more than $75 or less than the civil legal services fee established by the supreme court in 1997 that licensed attorneys are required to pay pursuant to the rules of the supreme court on lawyer registration.

Terms Used In Minnesota Statutes 481.22

  • court administrator: means the court administrator of the court in which the action or proceeding is pending, and "court administrator's office" means that court administrator's office. See Minnesota Statutes 645.44
  • Public defender: Represent defendants who can't afford an attorney in criminal matters.
  • state: extends to and includes the District of Columbia and the several territories. See Minnesota Statutes 645.44

(b) The fee described in paragraph (a) may apply only to attorneys actively engaged in the practice of law.

Subd. 2.Creation of account.

The public defender fee account is created in the special revenue fund. The state court administrator shall forward fees collected under subdivision 1 to the commissioner of management and budget who shall deposit them in the state treasury and credit them to this account. Money in the account is appropriated to the Board of Public Defense.