Vernon's Texas Rules Annotated - VTRA TX R MONTGOMERY CTY INDIG DEF Selection Process Attorney Selection Process

1. The defendant requesting counsel does not understand English, in which case the judge will appoint a Special Language attorney whose name is among the list of the contract defender program assigned in that specific District Court.

2. The defendant has an attorney already appointed on a prior pending matter. The same attorney will be appointed to the new matter.

1. Make every reasonable effort to contact the defendant by the end of the first working day after the date on which the attorney is appointed and to interview the defendant as soon as practicable after the attorney is appointed.

2. Represent a defendant until the charges are dismissed, the defendant is acquitted, appeals are exhausted, or the attorney is relieved of his duties by the Court or replaced by other counsel after a finding of good cause is entered on the record.

3. Perform the attorney's duty owed to the defendant in accordance with these procedures, the State Bar of Texas Performance Guidelines of Non-Capital Criminal Defense Representation, the requirements of the Code of Criminal Procedure, and applicable rules of ethics.

4. Manage attorney's workload to allow for the provision of quality representation and the execution of the responsibilities listed in these rules in every case.

1. Attorneys may not accept overlapping contract appointments.

2. The OCA Director shall present monthly reports on overall attorney caseload to the judges trying criminal cases as a measure to keep attorney appointments within the guidelines established by the Texas Indigent Defense Commission.