We also have a budget for experts, but conflict counsel have to go through the Court. Nathan Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone -------- Original message -------- From: "Welsh, Christopher" <WelshC@co.delaware.pa.us> Date: 7/1/21 8:04 PM (GMT-05:00) To: chiefdefenders@pdap.simplelists.com Subject: [EXTERNAL] - Re: Why do Judges get to dictate public funds for experts EXTERNAL: Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. I also have a line item in my budget for experts. I can’t think of any legal authority for the judiciary could arbitrarily limit the spending power of an executive branch agency. Then again, I am just a PD - not an expert on the separation of powers. Sent from my iPhone On Jul 1, 2021, at 6:40 PM, Kristin Rice <krice@adamscounty.us> wrote: I prevailed upon the commissioners to give me a Public Defender budget for experts so it’s entirely in my discretion. The commissioners also have a capital case fund for me to draw on, completely separate from the expert budget and the court’s budget. Very nice. What used to infuriate me was that the court thought the Commonwealth should be a party to my requests for funding until I started filing everything under seal. Sent from my iPhone On Jul 1, 2021, at 5:21 PM, Elizabeth Wood <ewood@columbiapa.org<mailto:ewood@columbiapa.org>> wrote: CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. My Commissioners want to know why the Court gets to order an expert be appointed and further why they have any direction or say over the funds paid to that expert. Since the public funds come from the Commissioners why should the Court get to dictate amounts paid or change amounts requested. Should that not be separate from them as they are hearing the case. I know this isn’t the case in all counties, my Commissioners will give me the funds needed for experts, the court however wants to limit it. There is case law that stems back to Commonwealth v. Carter 537 Pa. 233 (1994) that states appointment of experts is in the discretion of the court. It then references “The decision to appoint an expert witness is within the sound discretion of the trial court and will not be disturbed except for a clear abuse of that discretion. United States ex rel Dessus v. Pennsylvania, 316 F. Supp. 411<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flaw.justia.com%2Fcases%2Ffederal%2Fdistrict-courts%2FFSupp%2F316%2F411%2F1951708%2F&data=04%7C01%7CWelshC%40co.delaware.pa.us%7C165fd56fa5034229d25d08d93ce130de%7C8551c32a4d014b3eb3a0d59c2f37e1ce%7C0%7C0%7C637607760167557329%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=II%2BdER2vRelvcGPNJo%2BF3edKh3YghutJ9YOjgBUJenM%3D&reserved=0> (E.D.Pa.1970), aff'd, 452 F.2d 557 (3rd Cir.1971), cert. denied, 409 U.S. 853, 93 S. Ct. 184, 34 L. Ed. 2d 96 (1972); Commonwealth v. Gelormo, 327 Pa.Super. 219, 475 A.2d 765<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flaw.justia.com%2Fcases%2Fpennsylvania%2Fsupreme-court%2F1984%2F327-pa-super-219-1.html&data=04%7C01%7CWelshC%40co.delaware.pa.us%7C165fd56fa5034229d25d08d93ce130de%7C8551c32a4d014b3eb3a0d59c2f37e1ce%7C0%7C0%7C637607760167557329%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=f4m5nrJqJuyhvdHff6UIy3xSOnGW2twstuJe0DXvrso%3D&reserved=0> (1984). There is no obligation on the part of the Commonwealth to pay for the services of an expert. Commonwealth v. Williams, 522 Pa. 287, 294, 561 A.2d 714<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flaw.justia.com%2Fcases%2Fpennsylvania%2Fsupreme-court%2F1989%2F522-pa-287-1.html&data=04%7C01%7CWelshC%40co.delaware.pa.us%7C165fd56fa5034229d25d08d93ce130de%7C8551c32a4d014b3eb3a0d59c2f37e1ce%7C0%7C0%7C637607760167567286%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=hCXugcGhQnQd3cfEFVKcmQDAMx61sOKSjcyB3s70LBg%3D&reserved=0>, 718 (1989) (citing Commonwealth v. Box, 481 Pa. 62, 391 A.2d 1316<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flaw.justia.com%2Fcases%2Fpennsylvania%2Fsupreme-court%2F1978%2F481-pa-62-0.html&data=04%7C01%7CWelshC%40co.delaware.pa.us%7C165fd56fa5034229d25d08d93ce130de%7C8551c32a4d014b3eb3a0d59c2f37e1ce%7C0%7C0%7C637607760167567286%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=Gb7FYnmOf%2B0jOFxGRKrAm92vw3MOn7r%2BDKIsAeHeEOs%3D&reserved=0> (1978)); Commonwealth v. Rochester, 305 Pa.Super 364, 451 A.2d 690<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flaw.justia.com%2Fcases%2Fpennsylvania%2Fsuperior-court%2F1982%2F305-pa-super-364-2.html&data=04%7C01%7CWelshC%40co.delaware.pa.us%7C165fd56fa5034229d25d08d93ce130de%7C8551c32a4d014b3eb3a0d59c2f37e1ce%7C0%7C0%7C637607760167577242%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=%2BtPCH1IH8R2mFvjptkkWobfEXjQ4L4BZeJdllZYFQks%3D&reserved=0> (1982). However, in a capital case, an accused is entitled to the assistance of experts necessary to prepare a defense. United States ex rel. Dessus, 316 F. Supp. at 418.” It does not say they get to dictate payment to those experts or whom those experts should be. Why are we asking them. Can I get around a judge who doesn’t want to agree to more funds for an expert? Especially when the Commissioners will pay for it? To unsubscribe from this list please go to http://archives.simplelists.com<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Farchives.simplelists.com%2F&data=04%7C01%7CWelshC%40co.delaware.pa.us%7C165fd56fa5034229d25d08d93ce130de%7C8551c32a4d014b3eb3a0d59c2f37e1ce%7C0%7C0%7C637607760167577242%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=oLqKlpENSCmWsae6aT9byrDqx6MsUTeXSiL68AvfUVU%3D&reserved=0> To unsubscribe from this list please go to http://archives.simplelists.com<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.simplelists.com%2Fconfirm.php%3Fu%3Dv9xgyU2UdvGLvj2c94M9SBjovDOJ6NuN&data=04%7C01%7CWelshC%40co.delaware.pa.us%7C165fd56fa5034229d25d08d93ce130de%7C8551c32a4d014b3eb3a0d59c2f37e1ce%7C0%7C0%7C637607760167587200%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=FRVXBJPFbWyhGEhhzY0g3tsXTr7XjYPHVkTo4w7WOPs%3D&reserved=0> To unsubscribe from this list please go to http://www.simplelists.com/confirm.php?u=TwoRCF7nlok0c77fvtZFSvGe9PSHkBwO
