Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 13B.4 (2026)

Duties and powers of state public defender

✓ current as of July 2026

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1. a. The state public defender shall coordinate the provision of legal representation to all indigents under arrest or charged with a crime who face the possibility of imprisonment under the applicable criminal statute or ordinance. b. The state public defender shall also coordinate the provision of legal representation to all indigents seeking postconviction relief, against whom a contempt action is pending, in proceedings under section 811.1A or chapter 229A or 812, in juvenile proceedings, on appeal in criminal cases, and on appeal in proceedings to obtain postconviction relief when ordered to do so by the district court in which the judgment or order was issued, and may provide for the representation of indigents in proceedings instituted pursuant to chapter 908. c. The state public defender shall not engage in the private practice of law. 2. The state public defender shall file a notice with the clerk of the district court in each county served by a public defender designating which public defender office shall receive notice of appointment of cases. The state public defender may also designate a person admitted to practice law in this state or a nonprofit organization employing persons admitted to practice law in this state to be appointed by the court as a designee of the state public defender. In each county in which the state public defender files a designation, the state public defender’s designee shall be appointed by the court to represent all eligible persons or to serve as guardian ad litem for eligible children in juvenile court in all cases and proceedings specified in the designation. The appointment shall not be made if the state public defender or the state public defender’s designee notifies the court that the state public defender’s designee will not provide services in certain cases as identified in the designation by the state public defender. 3. The state public defender may contract with persons admitted to practice law in this state and nonprofit legal organizations for the provision of legal services to indigent persons. The contract may incorporate administrative rules into the terms of the contract or expressly provide that payments may be paid that are other than on an hourly rate basis for legal services provided, including but not limited to a fixed rate per case or per month. 4. a. The state public defender shall establish fee limitations for particular categories of cases. The fee limitations shall be reviewed at least every three years. In establishing and reviewing the fee limitations, the state public defender shall consider public input during the establishment and review process, and any available information regarding ordinary and customary charges for like services; the number of cases in which legal services to indigents are anticipated; the seriousness of the charge; an appropriate allocation of resources among the types of cases; experience with existing hourly rates, claims, and fee limitations; and any other factors determined to be relevant. b. The state public defender shall establish a procedure for the submission of all claims for payment of indigent defense costs, including the submission of interim claims in appropriate cases. c. The state public defender may review any claim for payment of indigent defense costs and may take any of the following actions: (1) If the charges are appropriate and reasonable, approve the claim for payment. (2) Deny the claim under any of the following circumstances: (a) If it is not timely. (b) If it is not payable as an indigent defense claim under chapter 815. (c) If it is not payable under the contract between the claimant and the state public defender. (d) If the claimant was appointed contrary to section 814.11 or 815.10, or the claimant failed to comply with section 814.11, subsection 7, or section 815.10, subsection 5.\n\nTue Dec 09 22:33:13 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 13B (46, 0) 3 PUBLIC DEFENDERS, §13B.4\n\n (3) Request additional information or return the claim to the claimant, if the claim is incomplete. (4) If any portion of the claim is excessive, notify the claimant that the claim is excessive and will be reduced to an amount which is not excessive, and reduce and approve the balance of the claim. (5) If any portion of the claim is not payable within the scope of appointment of the claimant, notify the claimant that a portion of the claim is not within the scope of appointment and is not payable, deny those portions of the claim that are not payable, and approve the balance of the claim. d. Notwithstanding chapter 17A, the claimant may seek review of any action or intended action denying or reducing any claim by filing a motion with the court with jurisdiction over the original appointment for review. (1) The motion must be filed within twenty days of any action taken by the state public defender. (2) The motion shall be set for hearing by the court and the state public defender shall be provided with at least ten days’ notice of the hearing. The state public defender shall not be required to file a resistance to the motion filed under this paragraph “d”. (3) The state public defender or the claimant may participate by telephone. If the state public defender participates by telephone, the state public defender shall be responsible for initiating and paying for all telephone charges. (4) The filing of a motion shall not delay the payment of the amount approved by the state public defender. (5) If a claim or portion of the claim is denied, the action of the state public defender shall be affirmed unless the action conflicts with a statute or an administrative rule. (6) If the claim is reduced for being excessive, the claimant shall have the burden to establish by a preponderance of the evidence that the amount of compensation and expenses is reasonable and necessary. (7) The decision of the court following a hearing on the motion is a final judgment appealable by the state public defender or the claimant. (8) If the state public defender is not first notified and given an opportunity to be heard, any court order entered after the state public defender has taken action on a claim, which affects that claim, is void. 5. In reviewing a claim for compensation submitted by an attorney who had been retained or agreed to represent an indigent person prior to appointment, the state public defender may consider any moneys earned or paid to the attorney prior to the appointment in determining whether the claim is reasonable and necessary or excessive. The attorney shall provide the state public defender with a copy of any representation agreement, and information on any moneys earned or paid to the attorney prior to the appointment. 6. The state public defender is authorized to contract with county attorneys to provide collection services related to court-ordered indigent defense restitution. 7. The state public defender shall not revise the allocations to the office of the state public defender and the allocations for indigent defense of adults and juveniles, unless prior notice of the revisions is given to the legislative services agency, the co-chairpersons and ranking members of the joint appropriations subcommittee on the justice system, and the co-chairpersons and ranking members of the house and senate committees on appropriations. 8. The state public defender shall adopt rules, as necessary, pursuant to chapter 17A to administer this chapter and chapter 815. 9. Executing the duties of this section shall not be deemed a violation of section 68B.6. [81 Acts, ch 23, §4, 8] 85 Acts, ch 36, §1; 88 Acts, ch 1161, §4; 89 Acts, ch 51, §1; 91 Acts, ch 268, §411, 439; 92 Acts, ch 1242, §18; 93 Acts, ch 175, §15; 94 Acts, ch 1107, §20; 94 Acts, ch 1187, §17; 96 Acts, ch 1040, §2; 99 Acts, ch 12, §1; 99 Acts, ch 135, §3 – 6; 99 Acts, ch 208, §46; 2000 Acts, ch 1154, §3; 2002 Acts, ch 1067, §1 – 5; 2002 Acts, ch 1119, §116; 2003 Acts, ch 35, §46, 49; 2003 Acts, ch 51, §1 – 3; 2004 Acts, ch 1040, §1 – 3; 2004 Acts, ch 1084, §1; 2004 Acts, ch 1091, §2; 2004 Acts, ch 1175, §195; 2005 Acts, ch 107, §1, 14; 2006 Acts, ch 1041, §2 – 4; 2007 Acts, ch

Tue Dec 09 22:33:13 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 13B (46, 0) §13B.4, PUBLIC DEFENDERS 4\n\n22, §7; 2008 Acts, ch 1061, §1; 2009 Acts, ch 178, §23, 24; 2012 Acts, ch 1063, §1; 2017 Acts, ch 88, §1, 2 Referred to in §13B.4A, 13B.9, 22.7(44), 814.11, 815.7, 815.10, 815.10A, 815.14, 908.2A

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 47 cases (6 in the last 5 years), 1986–2026 · leading case: Kent A. Simmons Vs. State Pub. Def., 791 N.W.2d 69 (Iowa 2010).

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Kent A. Simmons Vs. State Pub. Def., 791 N.W.2d 69 (Iowa 2010). · cites it 19× “The state public defender is directed to establish “fee limitations” for particular categories of cases. Iowa Code § 13B.”

Edward Crowell v. State Pub. Def. v. Iowa Dist. Court for Linn Cnty., 845 N.W.2d 676 (Iowa 2014). · cites it 14× “The legislature amended section 13B.4 in 1999 to grant an attorney the right to seek judicial review of a fee claim denial or reduction by the State Public Defender.”

State Pub. Def. v. Iowa Dist. Court for Johnson Cnty., 663 N.W.2d 413 (Iowa 2003). · cites it 18× “See Iowa Code § 13B.4(4)(c) (2001) (providing for state public defender’s approval of claims for payment of indigent defense costs).”

Hofmeyer v. Iowa Dist. Court for Fayette Cnty., 640 N.W.2d 225 (Iowa 2001). · cites it 10× “Hofmeyer also raised two constitutional challenges to the indigent defense contract.”

State v. Dudley, 766 N.W.2d 606 (Iowa 2009). · cites it 4× “10A(3) (“An attorney shall obtain court approval prior to exceeding the fee limitations established by the state public defender pursuant to section 13B.4.”). The State notes such approval “would be superfluous” since the potential for fiscal abuse is largely nonexistent when…”

Pfister v. Iowa Dist. Court for Polk Cnty., 688 N.W.2d 790 (Iowa 2004). · cites it 9× “Iowa Code § 13B.4(1) (2001). Costs associated with such representation were authorized to be paid from funds appropriated to the state public defender’s office.”

Halverson v. Iowa Dist. Court for Decatur Cnty., 532 N.W.2d 794 (Iowa 1995). · cites it 18× “This provision was in effect when Halverson filed his application for attorney fees and was codified in the 1993 Iowa Code at section 13B.4(4). Iowa Code section 13B.4(4) was amended in 1994 and now pertinently reads: 4.”

State Pub. Def. v. Iowa Dist. Court for Clarke Cnty., 745 N.W.2d 738 (Iowa 2008). · cites it 8× “Section 13B.4(3) allows the public defender to contract with attorneys for the provision of legal services to indigent persons.”

State of Iowa v. Adam Christopher Dahl, 874 N.W.2d 348 (Iowa 2016). · cites it 2× “An attorney who has not entered into a contract authorized under' section 13B.4 and who is appointed by the court to represent any person pursuant to section 814.”

State Pub. Def. v. Iowa Dist. Court for Woodbury Cnty., 731 N.W.2d 680 (Iowa 2007). · cites it 6× “10A(2): An attorney shall obtain court approval prior to exceeding the fee limitations established by the state public defender pursuant to section 13B.4. An attorney may exceed the fee limitations, if good cause is shown.”

State Pub. Def. v. Iowa Dist. Court for Warren Cnty., 594 N.W.2d 34 (Iowa 1999). · cites it 8× “10(3) provides: A contract attorney appointed by the court pursuant to this section and section 13B.4 shall apply to the state public defender for compensation and for reimbursement of costs incurred in accordance with the contract.”

State Pub. Def. v. Iowa Dist. Court, 886 N.W.2d 595 (Iowa 2016). · cites it 3× “[9], and determined the state public defender failed to meet his statutory duty to “coordinate the provision of legal representation” in this juvenile proceeding as required by Iowa Code section 13B.4(1). 4 The court further *598 concluded the local public defender’s failure to…”

Show all 47 citing cases →

— Iowa Code § 13B.4(1) — 6 cases

Pfister v. Iowa Dist. Court for Polk Cnty., 688 N.W.2d 790 (Iowa 2004). “Iowa Code § 13B.4(1) (2001). Costs associated with such representation were authorized to be paid from funds appropriated to the state public defender’s office.”

State Pub. Def. v. Iowa Dist. Court, 886 N.W.2d 595 (Iowa 2016). “[9], and determined the state public defender failed to meet his statutory duty to “coordinate the provision of legal representation” in this juvenile proceeding as required by Iowa Code section 13B.4(1). 4 The court further *598 concluded the local public defender’s failure to…”

State Pub. Def. v. Iowa Dist. Court for Linn Cnty., 728 N.W.2d 817 (Iowa 2007).

Amended December 30, 2016 State Pub. Def. v. Iowa Dist. Court (Iowa 2016).

G. Brian Weiler v. State Pub. Def., 873 N.W.2d 286 (Iowa Ct. App. 2015).

— Iowa Code § 13B.4(1)(a) — 1 case

State Pub. Def. v. Iowa Dist. Court For Scott Cnty. (Iowa 2026).

— Iowa Code § 13B.4(2) — 2 cases

State Pub. Def. v. Iowa Dist. Court For Scott Cnty. (Iowa 2026).

State of Iowa v. Justin Craig Bozarth (Iowa Ct. App. 2025).

— Iowa Code § 13B.4(3) — 8 cases

Kent A. Simmons Vs. State Pub. Def., 791 N.W.2d 69 (Iowa 2010). “The state public defender is directed to establish “fee limitations” for particular categories of cases. Iowa Code § 13B.”

State Pub. Def. v. Iowa Dist. Court for Polk Cnty., 721 N.W.2d 570 (Iowa 2006).

State Pub. Def. v. Iowa Dist. Court for Clarke Cnty., 745 N.W.2d 738 (Iowa 2008). “Section 13B.4(3) allows the public defender to contract with attorneys for the provision of legal services to indigent persons.”

State Pub. Def. v. Iowa Dist. Court for Linn Cnty., 728 N.W.2d 817 (Iowa 2007).

— Iowa Code § 13B.4(3)(1999) — 1 case

Hofmeyer v. Iowa Dist. Court for Fayette Cnty., 640 N.W.2d 225 (Iowa 2001). “Hofmeyer also raised two constitutional challenges to the indigent defense contract.”

— Iowa Code § 13B.4(4) — 11 cases

Edward Crowell v. State Pub. Def. v. Iowa Dist. Court for Linn Cnty., 845 N.W.2d 676 (Iowa 2014). “The legislature amended section 13B.4 in 1999 to grant an attorney the right to seek judicial review of a fee claim denial or reduction by the State Public Defender.”

Halverson v. Iowa Dist. Court for Decatur Cnty., 532 N.W.2d 794 (Iowa 1995). “This provision was in effect when Halverson filed his application for attorney fees and was codified in the 1993 Iowa Code at section 13B.4(4). Iowa Code section 13B.4(4) was amended in 1994 and now pertinently reads: 4.”

Kent A. Simmons Vs. State Pub. Def., 791 N.W.2d 69 (Iowa 2010). “The state public defender is directed to establish “fee limitations” for particular categories of cases. Iowa Code § 13B.”

State Pub. Def. v. Iowa Dist. Court for Woodbury Cnty., 731 N.W.2d 680 (Iowa 2007). “10A(2): An attorney shall obtain court approval prior to exceeding the fee limitations established by the state public defender pursuant to section 13B.4. An attorney may exceed the fee limitations, if good cause is shown.”

State Pub. Def. v. Iowa Dist. Court for Warren Cnty., 594 N.W.2d 34 (Iowa 1999). “10(3) provides: A contract attorney appointed by the court pursuant to this section and section 13B.4 shall apply to the state public defender for compensation and for reimbursement of costs incurred in accordance with the contract.”

— Iowa Code § 13B.4(4)(a) — 12 cases

Kent A. Simmons Vs. State Pub. Def., 791 N.W.2d 69 (Iowa 2010). “The state public defender is directed to establish “fee limitations” for particular categories of cases. Iowa Code § 13B.”

State v. Dudley, 766 N.W.2d 606 (Iowa 2009). “10A(3) (“An attorney shall obtain court approval prior to exceeding the fee limitations established by the state public defender pursuant to section 13B.4.”). The State notes such approval “would be superfluous” since the potential for fiscal abuse is largely nonexistent when…”

State Pub. Def. v. Iowa Dist. Court for Plymouth Cnty., 747 N.W.2d 218 (Iowa 2008).

— Iowa Code § 13B.4(4)(b) — 1 case

— Iowa Code § 13B.4(4)(c) — 8 cases

State Pub. Def. v. Iowa Dist. Court for Johnson Cnty., 663 N.W.2d 413 (Iowa 2003). “See Iowa Code § 13B.4(4)(c) (2001) (providing for state public defender’s approval of claims for payment of indigent defense costs).”

State Pub. Def. v. Iowa Dist. Court for Linn Cnty., 728 N.W.2d 817 (Iowa 2007).

State Pub. Def. v. Iowa Dist. Court for Union Cnty., 744 N.W.2d 321 (Iowa 2008).

Rodrigo Adolpho Amaya v. State Pub. Def. (Iowa 2022).

— Iowa Code § 13B.4(4)(c)(2)(a) — 2 cases

State Pub. Def. v. Iowa Dist. Court for Union Cnty., 744 N.W.2d 321 (Iowa 2008).

State Pub. Def. Vs. Iowa Dist. Court For Union Cnty. (Iowa 2008).

— Iowa Code § 13B.4(4)(c)(2)(b) — 2 cases

Philip Mears v. State Pub. Def. (Iowa Ct. App. 2014).

State Pub. Def. Vs. Iowa (Iowa 2007).

— Iowa Code § 13B.4(4)(c)(2)(c) — 2 cases

Kent A. Simmons Vs. State Pub. Def., 791 N.W.2d 69 (Iowa 2010). “The state public defender is directed to establish “fee limitations” for particular categories of cases. Iowa Code § 13B.”

State Pub. Def. Vs. Iowa Dist. Court For Clarke Cnty. (Iowa 2008).

— Iowa Code § 13B.4(4)(c)(2)(d) — 3 cases

G. Brian Weiler v. State Pub. Def., 873 N.W.2d 286 (Iowa Ct. App. 2015).

Julia Ofenbakh v. State Pub. Def. (Iowa Ct. App. 2014).

Arthur Lamar Benson v. State Pub. Def. (Iowa Ct. App. 2022).

— Iowa Code § 13B.4(4)(ci) — 1 case

— Iowa Code § 13B.4(4)(d) — 13 cases

Kent A. Simmons Vs. State Pub. Def., 791 N.W.2d 69 (Iowa 2010). “The state public defender is directed to establish “fee limitations” for particular categories of cases. Iowa Code § 13B.”

State Pub. Def. v. Iowa Dist. Court for Union Cnty., 744 N.W.2d 321 (Iowa 2008).

State Pub. Def. v. Iowa Dist. Court for Linn Cnty., 728 N.W.2d 817 (Iowa 2007).

— Iowa Code § 13B.4(4)(d)(5) — 7 cases

Kent A. Simmons Vs. State Pub. Def., 791 N.W.2d 69 (Iowa 2010). “The state public defender is directed to establish “fee limitations” for particular categories of cases. Iowa Code § 13B.”

State Pub. Def. v. Iowa Dist. Court for Union Cnty., 744 N.W.2d 321 (Iowa 2008).

Philip Mears v. State Pub. Def. (Iowa Ct. App. 2014).

G. Brian Weiler v. State Pub. Def., 873 N.W.2d 286 (Iowa Ct. App. 2015).

— Iowa Code § 13B.4(4)(d)(6) — 1 case

Kent A. Simmons Vs. State Pub. Def., 791 N.W.2d 69 (Iowa 2010). “The state public defender is directed to establish “fee limitations” for particular categories of cases. Iowa Code § 13B.”

— Iowa Code § 13B.4(4)(d)(7) — 5 cases

Rodrigo Adolpho Amaya v. State Pub. Def. (Iowa 2022).

Nicole Greenwood v. State Pub. Def., 901 N.W.2d 529 (Iowa Ct. App. 2017).

— Iowa Code § 13B.4(4)(e) — 1 case

Phelps v. State Pub. Def., 794 N.W.2d 826 (Iowa Ct. App. 2010).

— Iowa Code § 13B.4(4)(e)(2)(c) — 1 case

— Iowa Code § 13B.4(5) — 2 cases

Hofmeyer v. Iowa Dist. Court for Fayette Cnty., 640 N.W.2d 225 (Iowa 2001). “Hofmeyer also raised two constitutional challenges to the indigent defense contract.”

— Iowa Code § 13B.4(8) — 3 cases

Kent A. Simmons Vs. State Pub. Def., 791 N.W.2d 69 (Iowa 2010). “The state public defender is directed to establish “fee limitations” for particular categories of cases. Iowa Code § 13B.”

State Pub. Def. v. Iowa Dist. Court for Union Cnty., 744 N.W.2d 321 (Iowa 2008).

State Pub. Def. Vs. Iowa Dist. Court For Union Cnty. (Iowa 2008).

— Iowa Code § 13B.4(a) — 2 cases

State Pub. Def. Vs. Iowa (Iowa 2007).

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