Jacksonville judges often exceed caps on court-appointed lawyer costs

Taxpayers spent $1.1 million on court-appointed criminal defense lawyers in Northeast Florida the past two years, and most was approved by Jacksonville judges above fees set by state legislators, an analysis of court statistics shows.

The $875,000 spent over the legislative caps in this region was second most among Florida's 20 judicial circuits and more than courts in Orlando, St. Petersburg, Tampa and West Palm Beach combined.

Lawyers are appointed to represent criminal defendants when both the public defender and the state Office of Regional Conflict Counsel have conflicts that legally prevent them from involvement. The Legislature has set flat fees for court appointments, depending on the severity of the crime, but judges have discretion to approve more.

Judges and attorneys cited a variety of reasons the process might be more expensive in the 4th Judicial Circuit, made up of Duval, Clay and Nassau counties. Those possibilities include Jacksonville's two successful repeat-offender courts and more felonies going to trial.