Vernon's Texas Rules Annotated - VTRA TX R MONTGOMERY CTY INDIG DEF Compensation Fee and Expense Payment Process Compensation of Counsel

B. Request for payment on Capital and Appeal Cases: Fee voucher should be submitted to the court via the Fair Indigent Defense Online System.

C. Payment requests on Capital and Appeal cases must be submitted to the Judge presiding over the proceedings. The Judge shall either approve or disapprove the amount requested or shall enter written findings stating the amount approved and the reason(s) for approving an amount different from the requested amount.

D. Appeal of disapproved fee payment requests will be made by appointed counsel to the Presiding Judge of the Second Administrative Judicial Region, as provided by the Fair Defense Act.

E. Investigators and Expert Expenses With Prior Court Approval

Appointed counsel may file with the trial court a pretrial ex parte confidential request for payment of investigative and expert witness expenses. The request for expenses must state, as applicable:

F. Expenses Incurred Without Prior Approval: Expenses incurred without prior approval of the court will not automatically be reimbursed. On presentation of a claim for reimbursement, the court shall order reimbursement of the expenses upon determination that they are reasonably necessary and reasonably incurred. Unreasonable or unnecessary expenses will not be approved.

G. All payment of Court Appointed Attorneys for work performed in Capital cases shall be ordered via Ex Parte order. The attorney so appointed shall not be required to submit time detail as a condition of payment.