IDC
Indigent Defense Coordinator
MEMORANDUM
To: IDC Attorneys
Cc: Honorable David Morales
Honorable Michael Herbolich
Honorable Jimmy Judd
Honorable Judy Bethel
Honorable Timothy Dickerson
Honorable Linda Hale
Karen Ferrara, Court Administrator
From: Michael S. Politi, Legal Defender/IDC
Re: Initial Client Letter
Date: January 19, 2012
At a recent meeting with the Justice Courts a concern was
raised over the lack of communication between the attorney and
the client prior to the pretrial hearing. Specifically, the
courts requested that IDC attorneys ensure that a first letter
is sent to the client when the case is assigned.
This is standard practice in the Public Defender and Legal
Defender offices. I believe that most IDC attorneys are
following this practice as well. However, if any IDC attorney
is not routinely sending a first letter when accepting an
assignment from IDC please begin to do so now.
Criminal defendants often move or may not have provided a
proper address initially. Please, for your own protection, make
sure that your attempts to contact the client are documented.
Advise IDC if you are receiving case assignments that do not
contain addresses or telephone numbers in the related court
documents.
Please contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for
your cooperation.
P.O. Drawer AC, Bisbee, AZ 85603
(520)432-8458 FAX: (520)432-8461