TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Berkley Schwarz on Sep 11, 2020

A TBA petition to amend Rule 13 and permit interim billing by appointed counsel for indigent parties in non-capital cases was denied today by a Tennessee Supreme Court order. The court said that although it is aware of and appreciates the financial burdens placed on appointed counsel, especially during the current state of emergency, it must deny the petition because, “The requested amendments to Rule 13 would require significant and costly additions in personnel and technology by the Administrative Office of the Courts at a time when the number of claims continues to grow and when, as the TBA notes, additional funding for indigent defense has not been available.” The court committed to “continue to monitor and seek out ways in which to improve and expand in the indigent defense area.”