Submit your completed request to the Clerk of Court in the county in which your cases is pending. Do I qualify for a court-appointed attorney? You are only eligible for a court-appointed attorney to assist you with certain types of cases, such as criminal proceedings. The court must also determine whether you are indigent.
If you are not on public assistance, you must contact a private attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, contact Polk County Legal Aid at (515) 243-1193 or the ISBA Volunteer Lawyer Project at (515) 243-3179. I don't want my girlfriend (boyfriend, spouse, sister, etc.) living with me anymore.
Contact the Clerk of Court's office at (515) 286-3765. If you are arrested, you may be able to obtain a court-appointed attorney at your initial appearance if certain criteria are met. I cannot afford an attorney.
Call the Polk County Jail at (515) 286-3804. May I let the Parole Board know how I feel about a possible release of an offender? Any citizen may send information to the Parole Board at any time regarding their feelings about an inmate's release.
Call the Polk County Restorative Justice Center at (515) 286-3737 for information on the Victim-Offender Reconciliation Program (VORP). I would like to meet with the offender who hurt my family or me.
How do I get a court-appointed attorney? If you have a pending criminal, juvenile, or contempt proceeding and wish to have an attorney court-appointed to represent you, you must complete a Financial Affidavit and Application for Appointment of Counsel.
IT IS THE ORDER OF THE COURT that the application filed by attorney for review of the State Public Defender's denial of an indigent fee claim shall come on for hearing at o'clock a.m./p.m. on , 200_, at the District/Associate Court , County Courthouse, , Iowa. The parties may participate by telephone.
To get a contempt finding, you must usually file a court document called a "motion for an order to show cause." That puts the burden on the parent who isn't following the custody or visitation order to explain to the court the reasons why he or she should not be held in contempt.
If you fail to appear on a scheduled court date for a civil action, the judge may enter a default judgment against you and find in favor of the other party. Also, the judge may find you in contempt of court.
Ticklers and Dockets The tickler prompts the lawyer to pull files that need attention. A docketing function forewarns the lawyer of impending dates and deadlines. The terms “calendar,” “docket” and “tickler” are sometimes used interchangeably.
arraignment. At the arraignment, the court will read the formal charges and the defendant must enter a plea, generally guilty or not guilty. If the defendant cannot afford to hire an attorney, the court will appoint an attorney to represent the defendant.
In Iowa, there is no age in which a minor (under age 18) child can choose whether to visit or not. If a parent has interfered with the other parent's custody or visitation rights, the co-parent can ask the court to intervene and enforce the terms of the custody order.
A parent who physically and mentally abuses a child is unfit. A parent who ignores the needs of a child, fails to provide an education, fails to provide health care, and fails to provide adequate clothing or food will also be found unfit.
You start getting a civil protective order by going to the civil clerk's office in your county courthouse.The clerk has the forms you need to fill out and there is no charge to file the court action.Legal advocates may be available to help you fill out the paperwork.More items...
How can I speak to the judge on my case? To speak to the judge on your case, you must file a written motion with the court. You cannot write the judge a personal letter or email, and you cannot speak to the judge unless you are in a hearing.
This crime, according to Iowa Code 805.5, is failure to appear. This does not apply to those who are out on bail. The offense described is only for those who fail to appear from a citation. The offense is a simple misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail, a fine of $65 to $625, or both.
In almost all cases, if you do not need to see a doctor, the court is unlikely to accept your illness as an excuse not to attend court.
If this does not resolve your concern, you may contact the State Public Defender at 321 E. 12th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50319, and by phone at (515) 242-6158.
A client does not get to select their court-appointed attorney. If you have a concern, your first step should be to discuss your concern with the attorney. If this does not resolve your concern and the attorney is a public defender, you can then contact the attorney's supervisor.
Yes, generally speaking a person who is appointed an attorney is responsible for reimbursing the state the cost of the attorney and any other legal expenses incurred, such as expert witnesses, court reporters, or investigators, to the extent the person is reasonably able to pay the cost.
The court typically makes a determination of your reasonable ability to pay at the conclusion of the case. Juveniles in juvenile court proceedings generally are not required to reimburse the cost of their attorneys or guardians ad litem.
Private court-appointed attorneys are not supervised by the State Public Defender, but if you are unable to resolve your concerns directly with the attorney, you may address your complaints to the State Public Defender as well.
The Polk County Courthouse is located on 5th & Mulberry Street, Des Moines, Iowa. The public entrance is on the west side of the building on 6th avenue. The wheelchair accessible entrance is on the north side of the building on Mulberry Street.
For the protection of all who uses the Courthouse, all persons entering will pass through an airport style security metal detector. No weapons of any type will be allowed inside the Polk County Courthouse. This will include, but not be limited to the following items: any and all types of firearms; all types of knives, including any size pocketknife or cutting instrument; any form of chemical agent such as mace, pepper spray or OC spray; Cat’s eyes or any other type of self-defense weapon commonly carried on key rings. Anyone attempting to enter the courthouse while in possession of these or any other type of weapon will be asked to secure the item in a vehicle or location off the courthouse property prior to returning for admittance.
Should you or your family have an emergency during your jury service, leave a message with the Jury Clerk at 286-3769. If a sudden illness or emergency prevents your attendance, please call the Jury Clerk at 286-3769.
As a general rule, business or business casual clothing is acceptable. The following types of clothing are not suitable for court proceedings: shorts, tube tops, halter tops, clothing that contain any obscene, suggestive or inflammatory print or images, and clothes that are overly dirty or ragged.
Jurors are reimbursed for travel to and from residence to the courthouse at a rate approved by the supreme court. If you do not know the mileage, you can look it up on Mapquest.com.
If you are not on public assistance, you must contact a private attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, contact Polk County Legal Aid at (515) 243-1193 or the ISBA Volunteer Lawyer Project at (515) 243-3179.
To receive notification of upcoming parole hearings, release dates, death of an offender, or escape of an offender, you must register as a victim with the Polk County Attorney's Office. Requests are then sent to the Department of Corrections by the Polk County Attorney's Office.
If you missed your court date for a criminal charge, a warrant may have been issued for your arrest. Normally, notice of this type of warrant gets mailed to your last known address. You can call the Polk County Clerk of Court to check about this type of warrant at (515) 286-3765.
At a preliminary hearing, the State must show that the charges are based on probable cause (a reasonable person would believe a crime was committed, and that the defendant committed the crime). The Court must find substantial evidence to support probable cause.
At the initial appearance, the defendant is informed of the right to counsel, and counsel is appointed if the defendant cannot afford counsel and if the charge is serious enough. The judge makes a determination if there is probable cause for the charge.
There will be a telephone number listed at the bottom of your subpoena - call that number to speak with them directly. If there is no number, call (515)286-3737 to find out who is assigned to the case.
Contact the County Attorney Bad Check Restitution Program Merchant Hot Line at 1-877 279-0998. If the bad check is in excess of $1,000 call your local police department. Click here for the Bad Check Restitution Program information. I own a business and have received a bad check.
Notice to the State Public Defender should be sent to: State Public Defender’s Office, Fourth Floor, Lucas Building, 321 E. 12th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0087.
If the court handles all four children at the same time or the incident that gave rise to the child in need of assistance action is essentially the same, the fee limitation for the attorney representing the parent is one fee limitation for all four children, not one fee limitation for each child.
The hourly rate for court appointments after June 30, 2007 is $60 per hour. The hourly rate for court appointments after July 1, 2019 is $63 per hour. If a claim is submitted with two hourly rates or two possible appointment dates the earlier appointment date and lower hourly rate will be used.
Juvenile Petition on Appeal (The court appointed trial attorney does not need to obtain an appointment order to pursue a petition on appeal. The claim, through the filing of a petition on appeal, must be submitted on an indigent defense juvenile fee claim form.
Court Review. An attorney whose claim for compensation is denied, reduced or otherwise modified by the State Public Defender, for other than math errors, may seek court review of the action of the State Public Defender.
Attorneys can create an account at here. In order to fully access the Online Claims Submission system for the first time, attorneys will need to enter a token. This is a first time "pin" or "password" and is issued by the State Public Defender's Office.
For court appointed cases the State Public Defender’s Office will reimburse expenses if they are reasonable, necessary and relate to a case the attorney is appointed to by the court.