A recent amendment to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 13 authorizes the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to enter into contracts for representation of indigent litigants by attorneys working on various types of cases, including representation of indigent Respondents facing involuntary emergency judicial hospitalization pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 33-6-401 et seq..
These cases have been identified as a top priority for the use of contracts. The contract being offered will pay attorneys taking these cases a flat rate of $500 per docket that they handle. Hamilton County’s rate is higher than other areas because caseloads are higher there, and attorneys are required to travel to two facilities to meet with clients and to participate in probable cause hearings.
Payment for representation will be simplified as well. Attorneys will simply submit an invoice to the AOC (as opposed to completing numerous fee claims) for each docket along with a copy or copies of the order(s) appointing the attorney to that docket. Because the invoice substantially decreases the paperwork associated with the underlying cases, attorneys will be paid more quickly.
If you are interested in being considered for appointment to these cases, please complete the contract below and return it via scan and e-mail or fax to the AOC. E-mails can be sent to dhaines@tncourts.gov – send faxes to (615) 741-6285.