Recently, CDANY joined NYSACDL & NYSDA in sending a memo of support for an increase in Assigned Counsel fees in New York. 

In this memo, we respectfully requested that Section 722-b of County Law 18-b be amended as follows:

• increase Assigned Counsel rates for 2022 to $120 per hour for misdemeanors and $150 per hour for felonies and other matters, for both in-court and out-of-court work.
• add a provision that ensures an automatic annual cost of living rate increase.
• payment for the increase in rates should be an expense absorbed by the State; with the counties continuing to pay their current share while the State pays the difference.
• the statutory maximum amounts should be eliminated in order to encourage adequate time expenditure on individual cases.

Please click here to read the full memo.