LEO: Attorney's Refusal to Accept Court  LE Op. 239

 

Attorney's Refusal to Accept Court Appointment to Defend

Indigent.

 

March 22, 1974

 

Except for compelling reasons, it is improper for an attorney to refuse

to accept appointment by a judge to represent an indigent criminal

defendant, but whether such refusal is contemptuous is a legal, not

ethical, question, and whether a particular refusal is grounds for

discipline is a question for a disciplinary committee. [See II: DR:2-108(

C).]

 

Committee Opinion March 22, 1974