Each defendant has a right to be represented by an attorney in all phases of his/her court proceedings.  A defendant may retain an attorney of his/her choosing, or if determined to be indigent, have the court appoint an attorney to represent him/her.  The court is not obligated to appoint an attorney to represent a defendant on a charge that carries no potential jail time

A defendant must further complete an Affidavit of Indigence sworn before the court as to his/her financial situation.  Based on this information, the Judge will then determine if a defendant is eligible for a court-appointed attorney. Court-Appointed attorneys are not free attorneys.  They are appointed by the Court to represent defendants at a reduced rate. The amount charged is dependent upon the charges filed against the defendant.  
 
If convicted, the defendant will be ordered to repay the city for his/her court-appointed attorney fees.