La. Admin. Code tit. 22 § XV-1901

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section XV-1901 - Purpose, Findings and Intentions

A. The standards for attorneys representing indigent defendants in capital cases are intended to serve several purposes. First and foremost, the standards are intended to encourage public defenders, assistant public defenders, and assigned counsel to perform to a high standard of representation and to promote professionalism in the representation of indigent capital defendants. These standards apply to trial level, appellate, and post-conviction representation. It is the intention of these rules to adopt and apply the standards for capital defense set out by the American Bar Associations Guidelines for the Appointment and Performance of Defense Counsel in Death Penalty Cases, its associated commentary, and the Supplementary Guidelines for the Mitigation Function of Defense Teams in Death Penalty Cases.

B. The standards are also intended to alert defense counsel to courses of action that are necessary, advisable, or appropriate, and thereby to assist attorneys in deciding upon the particular actions that should be taken in each case to ensure that the capital client receives high quality legal representation. The standards are further intended to provide a measure by which the performance of individual attorneys and defender offices may be evaluated by case supervisors, responsible agencies and the state public defender and to assist in training and supervising attorneys. While the great majority of the requirements detailed in these standards reflect accepted minimum levels of practice in capital defense, some standards have been added to assist in the supervision, development and accountability of indigent capital defense service provision.

C. The language of these standards is general, implying flexibility of action which is appropriate to the situation. Use of judgment in deciding upon a particular course of action is reflected by the phrases "should consider" and "where appropriate". In those instances where a particular action is required in providing quality representation, the standards use the words "should" or "shall". Even where the standards use the words "should" or "shall", in certain situations the lawyers best informed professional judgment and discretion may indicate otherwise.

D. There is a limitless variety of circumstances presented by indigent capital defense and this variation in combination with changes in law and procedure requires that attorneys approach each new case with a fresh outlook. Therefore, though the standards are intended to be comprehensive, they are not exhaustive. Depending upon the type of case and the particular jurisdiction, there may well be additional actions that an attorney should take or should consider taking in order to provide zealous and effective representation. Attorneys are expected to use their individual professional judgment in representing clients. If that judgment mandates a departure from these standards, the attorney should be aware of and be able to articulate the reasons that a departure from the standards is in the clients best interests and consistent with high quality legal representation.

E. Minimum standards that have been promulgated concerning representation of defendants in non-capital cases, and the level of adherence to such standards required for non-capital cases are not sufficient for death penalty cases. Counsel in death penalty cases are required to perform at the level of an attorney reasonably skilled in the specialized practice of capital representation, zealously committed to the capital case, who has adequate time and resources for preparation. These performance standards have been adapted from the State of Louisiana Performance Standards for Criminal Defense Representation in Indigent Criminal Cases in the Trial Court, adding capital specific issues and procedures where necessary. In light of the recognition that "death is different" and capital prosecutions necessitate heightened procedural safeguards, these standards should be interpreted in order to compel high quality legal representation.

F. In accordance with R.S. 15:173 the exercise of the authority to promulgate standards is not intended to create any new right, right of action, or cause of action or eliminate any right, right of action, or cause of action existing under current law. Accordingly, these standards shall not be construed to provide any criminal defendant the basis of any claim that the attorney or attorneys appointed to represent him pursuant to the Louisiana Public Defender Act of 2007 performed in an ineffective manner.

La. Admin. Code tit. 22, § XV-1901

Promulgated by the Office of the Governor, Public Defender Board, LR 4149 (1/1/2015).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 15:148.