City of Spokane

Spokane Municipal Code

***Note: Many local criminal codes can now be located under Chapter 10.60 SMC while others are now cited under the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), which was incorporated into the municipal code in 2022. (See SMC 10.58.010). Code Enforcement, including Noise Control and Animal Regulations are located in Chapters 10.62 through 10.74.

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Title 03
Chapter 03.11
Section 03.11.010
 

Title 03 Administration and Personnel

Chapter 03.11 Public Defense Standards

Section 03.11.010 Adoption of Standards

  1. The City of Spokane hereby adopts the standards set forth in this chapter consistent with RCW 10.101.030. The standards are for the provision of public defense services in conjunction with the City’s prosecution of misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor cases. In addition to these standards, outside counsel shall be required to comply with any additional provisions in its individual contract.

  2. The City of Spokane adopts Standards for Indigent Defense Services by reference, as the same exist and may hereafter be amended.

  3. Public defense services shall be provided to all clients in a professional, skilled manner consistent with 1) the Standards set forth by the Washington State Bar Association and Performance Guidelines for Criminal Defense Representation (June 3, 2011); 2) the Washington State Supreme Court Rules of Professional Conduct, particularly RPC 1.1, 1.3 and 3.1; and 3) the decision of the Honorable Robert S. Lasnik, of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, in Wilbur, et al. v. The City of Mount Vernon, et al., case number 2:11-cv-01100-RSL filed December 4, 2013.

  4. The City Council recognizes that by adopting these Standards by reference, it is important that changes be reviewed on a regular basis. Accordingly, the City Council requests the City Public Defender to provide a report to the City Council in conjunction with the annual budget process so that it may evaluate the need to update these Standards and the Public Defender’s Office budget.

  5. The City Public Defender’s Office shall adopt a case weighting policy, if at all, consistent with the Washington State Office of Public Defense (OPD) Model Misdemeanor Case Weighting Policy (April, 2014), and file a copy of that policy with OPD.

Date Passed: Monday, December 15, 2014

Effective Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2015

ORD C35197 Section 1