Virginia legislation · 2027 Regular Session
Virginia SB848: A BILL to create a two-year pilot program for the compensation of private court-appointed counsel in the Cities of Newport News and Hampton; hourly rate; felony fee caps; report; sunset.
Status: In committee, October 26, 2026
Pilot program for the compensation of private court-appointed counsel in the Cities of Newport News and Hampton; hourly rate; felony fee caps; report; sunset. Creates a two-year pilot program for the compensation of private court-appointed counsel in the Cities of Newport News and Hampton. The bill provides guidelines for the pilot program and requires the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia to report on the pilot program on or before December 1, 2028. The bill provides that the pilot program sunsets on June 30, 2029.
What the bill says
To create a two-year pilot program for the compensation of private court-appointed counsel in the Cities of Newport News and Hampton; hourly rate; felony fee caps; report; sunset. ---------- Patron--Locke ---------- Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice ---------- 1. § 1. A. That there is hereby established a two-year pilot program to increase the availability of private attorneys qualified to serve as appointed counsel for indigent defendants in criminal matters in the Cities of Newport News and Hampton. B. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 19.2-163 of the Code of Virginia or a.
From the introduced text, October 26, 2026:
A BILL to create a two-year pilot program for the compensation of private court-appointed counsel in the Cities of Newport News and Hampton; hourly rate; felony fee caps; report; sunset. ---------- Patron--Locke ---------- Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice ---------- 1. § 1. A. That there is hereby established a two-year pilot program to increase the availability of private attorneys qualified to serve as appointed counsel for indigent defendants in criminal matters in the Cities of Newport News and Hampton. B. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 19.2-163 of the Code of Virginia or any other provision of law to the contrary, a private attorney appointed by a court in the City of Newport News or the City of Hampton during the pilot program shall be compensated at a rate of $150 per hour for legal services reasonably performed pursuant to such appointment. C. No statutory or administrative fee cap shall apply to compensation requested by appointed counsel, provided that the amount requested is supported by documentation and is approved by the court as reasonable and necessary expenses. An attorney seeking compensation shall file with the court a detailed accounting of time expended, including itemized time entries sufficient to allow the court to determine the nature of the services performed, the time reasonably necessary for such services, and the total …