What is IDCO?Abel Serrano2023-10-12T09:29:32-07:00
The Los Angeles County Independent Counsel Office (IDCO), established under the auspices of the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office, is a separate, autonomous, ethically walled-off office that oversees and administers the following private attorney appointment panels in Los Angeles County:
- Adult Criminal Conflict Panel
- Adult Criminal Mental Health Court Panel
- Adult Criminal Postconviction Relief Panel
- Adult Criminal SVP Panel
- Juvenile Justice Conflict Panel
- Civil Contempt Panel
- Family Law Contempt Panel
- California CARE Court Panel
What is an IDCO Panel Attorney?Abel Serrano2023-10-16T08:55:04-07:00
- IDCO panel attorneys are private attorneys who accept case appointments through the IDCO panel appointment system pursuant to California Penal Code 987.2(e).
- IDCO panel attorneys are private attorneys with their own individual private practices.
- IDCO panel attorneys are the attorney of record on their own cases once appointed through IDCO.
- IDCO panel attorneys are not employees of IDCO or Los Angeles County.
How are IDCO Panel Attorneys Paid?Abel Serrano2023-11-17T16:15:21-08:00
- IDCO panel attorneys are not paid by IDCO, but rather through the Los Angeles County Superior Court PACE Online Billing Portal, or ePACE, accessed here.
- IDCO panel attorneys are paid for two types of work.
- Duty Day Per Diem:
- Duty Days are prescheduled days during which an assigned attorney is available in a particular courthouse to accept cases on behalf of IDCO, appear on IDCO cases requiring reassignment, and other related tasks.
- Hourly Billing for Casework:
- IDCO panel attorneys are paid an hourly rate determined by the complexity grade of the case assignment.
What are the IDCO Case Grades and Compensation Rates?Abel Serrano2023-11-17T16:11:57-08:00
Adult Criminal Conflict Panel | |
---|---|
Duty Day Per Diem: | |
3hrs/Half Day: | $263.00 |
6hrs/Full Day: | $502.00 |
Hourly Rates: | |
Misdemeanors: | $100/hr |
Grade 1 Felonies | $107/hr |
Grade 2 Felonies | $114/hr |
Grade 3 Felonies | $124/hr |
Grade 4 Felonies | $140/hr |
Grade 5 Felonies | G5 cases bill via proposal |
Juvenile Justice Conflict Panel | |
Duty Day Per Diem: | $502.00 |
Juvenile Justice Hourly Rate: | $124/hr |
Adult Criminal Mental Health Court Panel | $150/hr |
Adult Criminal Postconviction Relief Panel | $140/hr |
Adult Criminal SVP Panel | $154/hr |
Civil Contempt Panel | $117/hr |
Family Law Contempt Panel | $117/hr |
California CARE Court Panel | $124/hr |
Case Type and Grade SummaryAbel Serrano2023-10-05T08:41:58-07:00
- Misdemeanors:
- All cases involving solely misdemeanor charges and no felonies.
- Grade I Cases:
- All felonies not designated as Grade II, III, IV or V type charge up to a 7-year maximum sentence.
- Grade II Cases:
- Felonies from 8 to 14 years maximum sentence.
- Grade III Cases:
- Generally, felonies from 15 to 24 years maximum sentence.
- Postconviction matters pursuant to 1172.7/1172.75 (SB483)
- Grade IV Cases:
- Generally, 25 years and life cases.
- All cases in which a third strike is alleged (P.C. 667).
- All non-special circumstance murder cases.
- All complex crimes involving protracted litigation.
- Postconviction matters pursuant to 1172.7/1172.75 (SB483)
- Grade V Cases:
- P.C. 187 with special circumstances.
- Juvenile Delinquency Cases:
- IDCO Juvenile Panel Attorneys represent youth charged with both misdemeanor and felony offenses in juvenile delinquency court.
- These cases are paid at the Grade III rate and require specialized Juvenile training and experience.
- Postconviction Relief Cases:
- IDCO Postconviction Panel Attorneys handle Habeas, Franklin, and resentencing matters pursuant to 1172.1, 1172.6, 1172.7/1172.75 (SB483), and 1170(d)(1).
- These cases are paid at the Grade IV Rate and require specialized training and experience.
- Adult Criminal Mental Health Court Cases:
- IDCO Panel Attorneys handle mental health cases in Dept. 95, 95A, and 95B.
- These cases are paid at $150/hr and require specialized training and experience.
- Adult Criminal SVP Cases:
- IDCO Panel Attorneys handle sexually violent predator cases.
- These cases are paid at $154/hr and require specialized training and experience.
- Civil Contempt Cases:
- IDCO Panel Attorneys handle civil contempt issues in civil court.
- These cases are paid at $117/hr and require specialized training and experience.
- Family Law Contempt Cases:
- IDCO Panel Attorneys handle contempt issues in family court.
- These cases are paid at $117/hr and required specialized training and experience.
- California CARE Court Cases:
- IDCO CARE Court Panel Attorneys handle cases involving California Care Courts.
- These cases are paid at $124/hr and require specialized training and experience.
How are Attorney Grades Assigned?Abel Serrano2023-10-05T08:46:38-07:00
IDCO Panel Attorney Grade Levels are determined based on background, training, and experience at the time of the application review. Existing IDCO panel attorneys may seek a grade level promotion.
How do I join the IDCO attorney panel?Abel Serrano2023-11-17T16:16:39-08:00
Please complete and submit IDCO Attorney Application found at the following link: IDCO Application .