The North Dakota Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents
Mission
The North Dakota Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents' mission is to provide high quality, professional, and effective legal representation to eligible clients, consistent with the guarantees of the constitutions of the United States and North Dakota, and applicable North Dakota statutes and rules, at reasonable cost to the community.
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Commission holds Quarterly Meeting
The Commission held a quarterly meeting of the Commission on December 20, 2022. The agenda was posted to the Secretary of State. .
Commission Seeks Comment on Performance Standards
The Commission has preliminarily approved 5 appellate performance standards.
Commission Seeks Comment on Performance Standards
The N.D. Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents seeks comments to suggested changes on the performance standards as it relates to criminal and juvenile matters.
Commission Formally Adopts changes to Policies at March 17, 2022 meeting
Commission Formally Adopts changes to Policies at March 17, 2022 meeting. Those policies have been updated in the Standards and Policies section of the website.
Income Guidelines for 2022 Updated
The Commission has updated the income guidelines for eligibility. The income guidelines reflect 125% of the official poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the authority of 42 U.S.C. Sec. 9902(2).
https://www.indigents.nd.gov/sites/www/files/documents/Copy%20of%20Inco…
Commission holds Quarterly Meeting
The North Dakota Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents held a quarterly meeting on December 2, 2021.
Director Finck Participates in Justice's Teaching Institute
Director Travis Finck participated in the Justices Teaching Institute that was hosted by the North Dakota Supreme Court. He represented the appellant in a mock oral argument. Article and photos found here
Commission Attorneys Sworn In
Three employees with the North Dakota Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents have recently been sworn in to practice law in North Dakota:
Jesus Gandara
Rebecca Jund
Daniel Howell
Welcome aboard!!
Commission proposes changes to Policies
The North Dakota Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents met on September 16, 2021 and made preliminary approval of changes to several policies and the guidelines. They were sent out for comment on September 22, 2021.
Commission to hold quarterly meeting
The North Dakota Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents will hold its quarterly meeting on September 16, 2021 in the Peace Garden Room at the North Dakota State Capitol.
Commission holds annual Indigent Defense Summer CLE
The Commission recently held a CLE in June in Fargo where attorneys and contractors. Simultaneously, the Commission held a quarterly meeting.
Devils Lake Public Defender Office New Mailing Address
The Devils Lake PD office has a new mailing address. To contact the office, you can send mail to P.O. Box 1032, Devils Lake, ND 58301.
Commission holds quarterly Meeting
The North Dakota Commission on Legal Counsel met for a quarterly meeting in Bismarck on March 15.
Public Defender Day Celebrated
The N.D. Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents celebrated the anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court case in Gideon v. Wainwright.
Annual Winter CLE completed virtually
The North Dakota Commission on Legal Counsel completed its annual winter CLE on December 4, 2020. If you attended the CLE, it may be claimed for a total for 5 CLE credits (4 regular, 1 ethics). The Event Code is 20201204NDCLCI
North Dakota Commission on Legal Counsel holds meeting
The Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents met on November 23, 2020 and conducted its quarterly meeting.
North Dakota Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents set to hold virtual training
The Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents is set to hold their annual Winter CLE on December 4, 2020. Due to the Covid 19 pandemic, the training will be provided in an online format. The CLE has been approved for 4 hours of general credit and 1 hour of ethics credit in North Dakota.
North Dakota Commission on Legal Counsel set to hold quarterly meeting
The North Dakota Commission on Legal Counsel for indigents will hold its next quarterly meeting on November 23, 2020 @ 10:00 a.m. in Bismarck. The agenda will be posted with the secretary of state when finalized.
Commission to hold quarterly meeting
The North Dakota Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents is set to hold a quarterly meeting on September 10, 2020. The meeting will take place at the Peace Garden Room of the state capitol.
Commission to Hold Special Meeting to Address Budget
The Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents will be meeting at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday August, 6, 2020. The meeting will be held virtual on Microsoft Teams or via telephone. The Commission's Valley City Administrative Office will serve as the physical location. To access the meeting, you may dial (701) 328-0950, Conference ID 887 870 274#
CLE credit applied for in Minnesota
The Indigent Defense Summer CLE held on Microsoft Teams on June 25, 2020 has been submitted for credit in Minnesota. North Dakota has previously approved the credit. If you have any questions, please contact the Valley City administrative office.
Policies sent for Comment
The North Dakota Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents has approved changes to three policies. Pursuant to the rule on adoption of standards and policies, the Commission is providing notice to interested parties for comment. If a party wishes to comments, all comments must be sent to clcivc@nd.gov no later than August 17, 2020. At that time, the Commission will decide whether to adopt the policies as originally drafted or as modified due to comments.
Indigent Defense 2020 Summer CLE (online)
The Commission had to cancel its in person Indigent Defense Summer CLE due to concerns for the safety of the attendees and presenters. The agency will host a CLE on June 25, 2020 on Microsoft Teams. If you are interested in attending, please contact Jennifer Williams at jewilliams@nd.gov and let her know you would like to register and what email we can send the login information too. The list of speakers and bios can be found here. The online webinar has been approved for 6.5 hours of regular credit and 1.0 hours of ethics.
North Dakota Commission on Legal Counsel sets presumed rate of reimbursement
The North Dakota Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents leaves presumed rate of reimbursement at current levels.
Governor Burgum to issue budget guideline for state agency 2021-23 budgets
Governor Doug Burgum will release the guidelines for preparation of the 2021-23 budget requests on May 1, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. The press briefing will be streamed live via the Governor's Facebook page or agencies can connect using Microsoft Teams Live.
The Governor’s remarks and other handouts will be posted to the OMB website after the presentation.
Devils Lake Public Defender Office Opened
The North Dakota Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents has announced the opening of its 8th public defender location in Devils Lake, North Dakota.
2020 Indigent Defense CLE format Modified
Due to the Covid 19 pandemic, Executive Director Travis Finck has informed employees and contractors the summer CLE will be modified and held in an online format.
John R. Justice Grant Program
John R. Justice (JRJ) Grant Program is available to assist certain prosecutors and public defenders in repayment of their eligible student loans.
Juvenile Law: The Rest of the Story: Guardianships/TPR/Parents/Appeals
June 29, 2018 Valley City and Public Defender Offices
Approved for 1.0 ND CLE credit
Event Code 20180629NDCLCI
2015 Indigent Defense Summer CLE
June 25-26 at the Fargo Ramada
approved for 11.5 CLE credits in ND, including 1.5 ethics credit
approved for 10.0 regular credits in MN, and 1.5 ethics credit (event code 206165)
2018 Indigent Defense Summer CLE
June 21-22 Minot Clarion
Approved for 12.5 credits in ND, including 3.0 ethics credits
Event Code 20180621NDCLCI
Juvenile Law: Unruly/Status Offenses & ICWA
May 11, 2018 Valley City and Public Defender Offices
Approved for 1.0 ND CLE credit
Event Code 20180511NDCLCI
Juvenile Law: Understanding Detention and Delinquency
April 27, 2018 Valley City and Public Defender Offices
Approved for 1.0 ND CLE Credit
Event Code 20180427NDCLCI
Overview of the Juvenile Court System
January 19, 2018 Valley City and Public Defender Offices
Approved for 1.0 ND CLE credit
Event Code 20180119NDCLCI
2017 Winter CLE
December 1, 2017 Fargo Holiday Inn
Approved for 3.5 ND CLE credits, 0.0 ethics
Event Code 20171201NDCLCI
Client Confidentiality and Mental Health
November 15, 2017 Valley City and Public Defender Offices
Approved for 1.0 ND Ethics CLE credit
Event Code 20171115NDCLCI
Guidelines to Determine Eligibility for Indigent Defense Services
September 28, 2017 Valley City and Public Defender Offices
Approved for 1.0 ND CLE
Event Code 20170928NDCLCI
A Discussion on State vs. Helm
October 24, 2017
Approved for 1.0 ND CLE credits
Event Code 2017024NDCLCI
Post-conviction Relief
August 18, 2017 Valley City and Public Defender Offices
Approved for 1.0 ND CLE credit
Event Code 20170818NDCLCI
2017 Indigent Defense Summer CLE
June 21-22, 2017 Bismarck Ramkota
Approved for 11.25 ND CLE credits including 1.0 ethics credit
Approved for 10.25 standard credits in MN and 1.0 ethics credit in MN (event code 242079)
Event Code 2050-06-21-17
2016 Christmas CLE
December 2, 2016 Bismarck Radisson
approved for 3.5 ND CLE credits, 0.0 ethics
Event Code 20161202
2016 Indigent Defense Summer CLE
June 22-23 at the Grand Forks Alerus Center
Approved for 12.25 credits in ND, including 1.5 ethics credits.
Approved for 10.75 standard credits in MN, and 1.5 ethics credits.
Event Code 20161202NDCLCI
2015 Christmas CLE
December 4 at the Bismarck Ramada
approved for 3.75 CLE credits in ND (Event #20151204NDCLCI)
2014 Christmas CLE
December 5 at the Bismarck Ramada
approved for 3.5 CLE credits in ND (Event #20141205NDCLCI)
2014 FAS CLE
June 26, 2014 at the Grand Forks county office building
approved for 2.0 CLE credits in ND
2014 Indigent Defense Summer CLE
June 24-25 at the Bismarck Ramkota
approved for 12.0 CLE credits, in ND, including 1.0 ethics credit
approved for 12.0 CLE credits in MN (event code 192136)