Gwinnett, Cobb look to trim indigent defense costs

UNDATED - Gwinnett and Cobb counties, trying to deal with tight budgets, are looking to trim the amount they spend on indigent defense.

The counties are among six that are not part of Georgia's indigent defense system, which has had to deal with budget cuts.

Gwinnett County is reducing its rates for appointed defense attorneys from $75 to $65 an hour for serious felony cases, including murder, rape and armed robbery.
For most other court cases, rates are being cut from $60 to $55 an hour.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that in Cobb County, administrator Randy Harris says the defender office is more closely scrutinizing attorney billing, but the budget has not be reduced.