§ 9 — Division standards

Massachusetts § 9

• Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
• Part III: COURTS, JUDICIAL OFFICERS AND PROCEEDINGS IN CIVIL CASES
• Title I: COURTS AND JUDICIAL OFFICERS
• Ch. 211D: COMMITTEE FOR PUBLIC COUNSEL SERVICES

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Section 9. The committee shall establish standards for the public defender division and the private counsel division which shall include but not be limited to:(a) vertical or continuous representation at the pre-trial and trial stages by the attorney either assigned or appointed, whenever possible;(b) required participation by each attorney in an approved course of training in the fundamentals of criminal trial practice, unless the attorney has a level of ability which makes such participation unnecessary;(c) specified caseload limitation levels;(d) investigative services;(e) a method for the provision of social services or social service referrals;(f) availability of expert witnesses to participating counsel;(g) clerical assistance, interview facilities, and the availability of a law library and model forms to participating counsel; and(h) adequate supervision provided by experienced attorneys who shall be available to less experienced attorneys.(i) qualifications for vendors for the services provided in clauses (d), (e) and (f) and a range of rates payable for said services, taking into consideration the rates, qualifications and history of performance; provided, however, that such ranges may be exceeded with approval of the court. Payment of such costs and fees shall be in accordance with the provisions of section twenty-seven A to G, inclusive, of chapter two hundred and sixty-one.