Author : Robert T. Stephan
Release : 1981
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Kind : eBook
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Book Synopsis Attorney General Opinion No. 1981-260 by : Robert T. Stephan
Download or read book Attorney General Opinion No. 1981-260 written by Robert T. Stephan. This book was released on 1981. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Under the provisions of K.S.A. 1980 Supp. 22-4504 (as amended by L. 1981, ch. 157, sec. 1), the board of supervisors of panels to aid indigent defendants is empowered to adopt rules and regulations concerning the ability of a defendant in a criminal action to retain counsel to assist in his defense. Such rules and regulations specifically relate to the income, assets and anticipated costs of representation of a defendant. Pursuant to the 1981 amendment, such rules and regulations are controlling on any determination by a judge or magistrate as to whether a defendant is financially unable to employ counsel. Moreover, these rules and regulations are adopted in accordance with K.S.A. 77-415 e̲t̲ s̲e̲q̲., thus allowing the legislature to modify or reject them through the adoption of a concurrent resolution (K.S.A. 1980 Supp. 77-426). Insofar as the making of indigency determinations involves the resolution of questions of fact, which is a judicial and not a legislative function, control by the legislature over such determinations is an impermissible interference with the authority of another department of government. Accordingly, those provisions of L. 1981, ch. 157 which require the submission of such rules and regulations to the legislature and which make any rules and regulations so adopted binding on district courts are unconstitutional as violative of the separation of powers doctrine. Cited herein: K.S.A. 1980 Supp. 22-4501, 22-4504 (as amended by L. 1981, ch. 157, section 1), 22-4507, K.S.A. 22-4512, K.S.A. 1980 Supp. 22-4514, 77-415 (as amended by L. 1981, ch. 157, section 3), Kansas Constitution, Article 3, Section 1, United States Bill of Rights, Sixth Amendment, Fourteenth Amendment.
