New Hampshire Revised Statutes 604-A:2 – Appointment of Counsel
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I. In every criminal case in which the defendant is charged with a felony or a class A misdemeanor and appears without counsel, the court before which he or she appears shall advise the defendant that he or she has a right to be represented by counsel and that counsel will be appointed to represent him or her if he or she is financially unable to obtain counsel. Unless the defendant waives the appointment of counsel, if the defendant indicates to the court that he or she is financially unable to obtain counsel, the court shall instruct the defendant to complete a financial statement under oath in such form as designated by the unit of cost containment. If after review of the financial statement under oath and application of the rules established pursuant to N.H. Rev. Stat. § 604-A:10, IV the court is satisfied that the defendant is financially unable to obtain counsel, the court shall appoint counsel to represent him or her; provided, however, that in any case in which the defendant is charged with a capital offense, the court may appoint 2 counsel to represent him or her. Whenever defendants have such conflicting interests that they cannot be properly represented by the same counsel, or when other good cause is shown, the court shall appoint separate counsel for each of them. In a post-conviction proceeding in which a defendant seeks to attack the validity of an underlying conviction, the court shall appoint counsel or approve a request for services other than counsel when the interests of justice or judicial economy require.
II. Whenever the court makes an appointment under paragraph I, the appointment shall be made as follows: first, appointment of the public defender program under N.H. Rev. Stat. Chapter 604-B if that office is available; second, in the event the public defender program is not available, appointment of a contract attorney under N.H. Rev. Stat. § 604-A:2-b if such an attorney is available; and third, in the event that neither the public defender program nor a contract attorney is available, the appointment of any qualified attorney under paragraph I.
For details, see N.H. Rev. Stat. 651:2
III. In the event that the defendant disagrees with the commissioner’s decision on eligibility, the defendant shall have the right to appeal to the court having jurisdiction over the case within 7 days of notification of the commissioner’s findings. An appeals hearing shall be held before the court in which the defendant will be tried and the burden of persuasion shall be upon the defendant to demonstrate why the determination procedures specified in the rules pursuant to N.H. Rev. Stat. § 604-A:10, IV, should not be controlling in the case. In any such hearing the court shall receive such evidence and argument as justice may require and shall enter an order setting forth its decision within 7 days of the filing of the appeal. In the event the court alters the commissioner’s eligibility decision on appeal, its order shall contain specific findings outlining why the commissioner’s decision was not sustained.
IV. (a) The court shall review any information available to it regarding the defendant’s mental condition and shall require the state to disclose any information as to the defendant’s mental condition. If the court has information indicating the defendant has a mental illness, the court shall act on any application for appointed counsel on the same day as the defendant’s first court appearance. If the application is approved, the court shall, by phone, notify the attorney appointed to represent the defendant and immediately transmit all relevant court documents to the attorney by facsimile or other electronic transmission.
(b) The court shall appoint counsel without formal application if the defendant is without counsel and mental illness appears to be interfering with the defendant’s ability to communicate, understand court proceedings, or to complete a formal application on a timely basis.
(c) If a public defender is appointed, the public defender, upon receiving notification that the defendant may have a mental illness, shall, on the day notice of the appointment is received, designate a specific attorney to represent the defendant.
II. Whenever the court makes an appointment under paragraph I, the appointment shall be made as follows: first, appointment of the public defender program under N.H. Rev. Stat. Chapter 604-B if that office is available; second, in the event the public defender program is not available, appointment of a contract attorney under N.H. Rev. Stat. § 604-A:2-b if such an attorney is available; and third, in the event that neither the public defender program nor a contract attorney is available, the appointment of any qualified attorney under paragraph I.
Attorney's Note
Under the New Hampshire Revised Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class A misdemeanor | up to 1 year | up to $2,000 |
Terms Used In New Hampshire Revised Statutes 604-A:2
- Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
- Capital offense: A crime punishable by death.
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- justice: when applied to a magistrate, shall mean a justice of a municipal court, or a justice of the peace having jurisdiction over the subject-matter. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:12
- oath: shall include "affirmation" in all cases where by law an affirmation may be substituted for an oath; and, in like cases, the word "sworn" shall include the word "affirmed. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:24
- Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
- Public defender: Represent defendants who can't afford an attorney in criminal matters.
- state: when applied to different parts of the United States, may extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories, so called; and the words "United States" shall include said district and territories. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:4
III. In the event that the defendant disagrees with the commissioner’s decision on eligibility, the defendant shall have the right to appeal to the court having jurisdiction over the case within 7 days of notification of the commissioner’s findings. An appeals hearing shall be held before the court in which the defendant will be tried and the burden of persuasion shall be upon the defendant to demonstrate why the determination procedures specified in the rules pursuant to N.H. Rev. Stat. § 604-A:10, IV, should not be controlling in the case. In any such hearing the court shall receive such evidence and argument as justice may require and shall enter an order setting forth its decision within 7 days of the filing of the appeal. In the event the court alters the commissioner’s eligibility decision on appeal, its order shall contain specific findings outlining why the commissioner’s decision was not sustained.
IV. (a) The court shall review any information available to it regarding the defendant’s mental condition and shall require the state to disclose any information as to the defendant’s mental condition. If the court has information indicating the defendant has a mental illness, the court shall act on any application for appointed counsel on the same day as the defendant’s first court appearance. If the application is approved, the court shall, by phone, notify the attorney appointed to represent the defendant and immediately transmit all relevant court documents to the attorney by facsimile or other electronic transmission.
(b) The court shall appoint counsel without formal application if the defendant is without counsel and mental illness appears to be interfering with the defendant’s ability to communicate, understand court proceedings, or to complete a formal application on a timely basis.
(c) If a public defender is appointed, the public defender, upon receiving notification that the defendant may have a mental illness, shall, on the day notice of the appointment is received, designate a specific attorney to represent the defendant.