(a) Each judicial district must screen requests for representation by the district public defender. A defendant is financially unable to obtain counsel if:
(1) the defendant, or any dependent of the defendant who resides in the same household as the defendant, receives means-tested governmental benefits; or
(2) the court determines that the defendant, through any combination of liquid assets and current income, would be unable to pay the reasonable costs charged by private counsel in that judicial district for a defense of the same matter.
(b) Upon a request for the appointment of counsel, the court shall make an appropriate determination of financial eligibility under paragraph (a) of the applicant, who shall submit a financial statement under oath or affirmation setting forth the applicant's assets and liabilities, including the value of any real property owned by the applicant, whether homestead or otherwise, less the amount of any encumbrances on the real property, the source or sources of income, and any other information required by the court. The applicant shall be under a continuing duty while represented by a public defender to disclose any changes in the applicant's financial circumstances. The state public defender shall furnish appropriate forms for the financial statements, which must be used by the district courts throughout the state. The forms must contain conspicuous notice of the applicant's continuing duty to disclose to the court changes in the applicant's financial circumstances. The forms must also contain conspicuous notice of the applicant's obligation to make a co-payment for the services of the district public defender, as specified under paragraph (c). The information contained in the statement shall be confidential and for the exclusive use of the court and the public defender except for any prosecution under section 609.48. A refusal to execute the financial statement or produce financial records constitutes a waiver of the right to the appointment of a public defender. The court shall not appoint a public defender to a defendant who is financially able to retain private counsel but refuses to do so, refuses to execute the financial statement or refuses to provide information necessary to determine financial eligibility under this section, or waives the appointment of a public defender under section 611.19.
An inquiry to determine financial eligibility of a defendant for the appointment of the district public defender shall be made whenever possible prior to the court appearance and by such persons as the court may direct. This inquiry may be combined with the prerelease investigation provided for in Minnesota Rule of Criminal Procedure 6.02, subdivision 3. In no case shall the district public defender be required to perform this inquiry or investigate the defendant's assets or eligibility. The court has the sole duty to conduct a financial inquiry. The inquiry must include the following:
(1) the liquidity of real estate assets, including the defendant's homestead;
(2) any assets that can be readily converted to cash or used to secure a debt;
(3) the determination of whether the transfer of an asset is voidable as a fraudulent conveyance; and
(4) the value of all property transfers occurring on or after the date of the alleged offense or notice of the action. The burden is on the accused to show that the accused is financially unable to afford counsel. Defendants who fail to provide information necessary to determine eligibility shall be deemed ineligible. The court must not appoint the district public defender as advisory counsel or standby counsel. If the court appoints advisory or standby counsel, the cost of counsel shall be paid for by the Office of the State Court Administrator or, if the prosecutor requests the appointment, by the governmental unit conducting the prosecution. In no event may the court order the Board of Public Defense to pay the cost of advisory or standby counsel.
(c) Upon disposition of the case, an individual who has received public defender services shall pay to the court a $75 co-payment for representation provided by a public defender, unless the co-payment is, or has been, reduced in part or waived by the court.
The co-payment must be credited to the general fund. If a term of probation is imposed as a part of an offender's sentence, the co-payment required by this section must not be made a condition of probation. The co-payment required by this section is a civil obligation and must not be made a condition of a criminal sentence.
1965 c 869 s 4; 1983 c 359 s 91; 1986 c 444; 1989 c 335 art 1 s 260; 1991 c 345 art 3 s 3; 1993 c 146 art 2 s 19; 1994 c 636 art 11 s 3; 1995 c 226 art 2 s 24; 2002 c 220 art 6 s 13; 1Sp2003 c 2 art 3 s 4; 1Sp2003 c 23 s 6; 2007 c 61 s 4; 2009 c 83 art 2 s 47; 2012 c 212 s 11
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapters 609 - 624 — Crimes; Expungement; Victims
Chapter 611 — Rights Of Accused
Section 611.01 — Ground Of Arrest, Knowledge.
Section 611.02 — Presumption Of Innocence; Conviction Of Lowest Degree, When.
Section 611.025 — Presumption Of Responsibility.
Section 611.026 — Criminal Responsibility Of Persons With A Mental Illness Or Cognitive Impairment.
Section 611.027 — Disposition Of Child Of Parent Arrested.
Section 611.033 — Copy Of Confession Or Admission.
Section 611.05 — Continuance; Effect; Bail.
Section 611.06 — Defendant Entitled To Blank Subpoenas.
Section 611.11 — No Presumption From Failure To Testify.
Section 611.14 — Right To Representation By Public Defender.
Section 611.15 — Notification Of Right To Representation.
Section 611.16 — Request For Appointment Of Public Defender.
Section 611.18 — Appointment Of Public Defender.
Section 611.19 — Waiver Of Appointment Of Counsel.
Section 611.20 — Subsequent Ability To Pay Counsel.
Section 611.21 — Services Other Than Counsel.
Section 611.215 — State Board Of Public Defense Created.
Section 611.216 — Criminal And Juvenile Defense Grants.
Section 611.23 — Office Of State Public Defender; Appointment; Salary.
Section 611.24 — Chief Appellate Public Defender; Organization Of Office; Assistants.
Section 611.25 — Powers; Duties; Limitations.
Section 611.26 — District Public Defenders.
Section 611.262 — Representation Before Appointment.
Section 611.263 — Employer; Ramsey, Hennepin Defenders.
Section 611.27 — Offices Of District Public Defender; Financing; Representation.
Section 611.271 — Copies Of Documents; Fees.
Section 611.272 — Access To Government Data.
Section 611.273 — Surplus Property.
Section 611.30 — Right To Interpreter, State Policy.
Section 611.31 — Disabled Person.
Section 611.32 — Proceedings Where Interpreter Appointed.
Section 611.33 — Qualified Interpreter.
Section 611.34 — Applicability To All Courts.
Section 611.35 — Reimbursement Of Appointed Counsel.
Section 611.362 — Claim For Compensation Based On Exoneration.
Section 611.363 — Compensation Panel.
Section 611.364 — Prehearing Settlements And Hearing.
Section 611.366 — Judicial Review.
Section 611.367 — Compensating Exonerated Persons; Appropriations Process.
Section 611.368 — Short Title.
Section 611.40 — Applicability.
Section 611.42 — Competency Motion Procedures.
Section 611.43 — Competency Examination And Report.
Section 611.44 — Contested Hearing Procedures.
Section 611.45 — Competency Findings.
Section 611.46 — Incompetent To Stand Trial And Continuing Supervision.
Section 611.47 — Administration Of Medication.
Section 611.48 — Review Hearings.
Section 611.49 — Likelihood To Attain Competency.
Section 611.50 — Defendant's Participation And Conduct Of Hearings.
Section 611.51 — Credit For Confinement.
Section 611.55 — Forensic Navigator Services.
Section 611.56 — State Competency Restoration Board.
Section 611.57 — Certification Advisory Committee.
Section 611.58 — Competency Restoration Curriculum And Certification.