Kansas Statutes Annotated

K.S.A. § 22-4503 (2026)

Entitlement of defendant to counsel; appointment of counsel, when; access to defendant; duty of appointed counsel

✓ current as of May 2026

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22-4503. Entitlement of defendant to counsel; appointment of counsel, when; access to defendant; duty of appointed counsel. (a) A defendant charged by the state of Kansas in a complaint, information or indictment with any felony is entitled to have the assistance of counsel at every stage of the proceedings against such defendant and a defendant in an extradition proceeding, or a habeas corpus proceeding pursuant to K.S.A. 22-2710, and amendments thereto, is entitled to have assistance of counsel at such proceeding. A person subject to an order or commitment pursuant to K.S.A. 22-3428 or K.S.A. 59-2965, and amendments thereto, shall be entitled to the assistance of counsel at every stage of a habeas corpus proceeding brought by such person and the provisions of this section relating to defendants shall be applicable to such persons.

(b) If such a defendant appears before any court without counsel to assist and conduct the defendant's defense, it shall be the duty of the court to inform the defendant that such defendant is entitled to counsel and that counsel will be appointed to represent the defendant if the defendant is not financially able to employ an attorney. The court shall give the defendant an opportunity to employ counsel of the defendant's own choosing if the defendant states the defendant is able to do so. If the defendant asks to consult with counsel of the defendant's own choosing, the defendant shall be given a reasonable opportunity to do so.

(c) If it is determined that the defendant is not able to employ counsel, as provided in K.S.A. 22-4504, and amendments thereto, the court shall appoint an attorney from the panel for indigents' defense services or otherwise in accordance with the applicable system for providing legal defense services for indigent persons prescribed by the state board of indigents' defense services for the county or judicial district. A record of the proceedings provided for by this section shall be entered in the journal, and any order binding the defendant for trial or directing further detention upon the charge and the journal entry of trial and judgment shall recite the substance of such proceedings.

(d) Counsel employed by or appointed for the defendant shall have free access to the defendant at all times for the purpose of conferring with the defendant relative to the charge, for advising the defendant respecting the defendant's plea and for the preparation of the defense, if a defense is to be made. It is the duty of an attorney appointed by the court to represent a defendant, without charge to such defendant, to inform the defendant fully of the crime charged against the defendant and the penalty therefor, and in all respects fully and fairly to represent the defendant in the action.

(e) If, after the attorney's appointment, the attorney learns that the defendant has funds or other resources sufficient to enable the defendant to employ counsel, the attorney shall report these facts to the court and ask permission to withdraw from the case or to be permitted to accept compensation for services.

History: L. 1969, ch. 291, § 3; L. 1979, ch. 100, § 1; L. 1979, ch. 97, § 3; L. 1982, ch. 142, § 13; L. 1996, ch. 167, § 46; April 18.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 47 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1972–2024 · leading case: State v. Lawson, 297 P.3d 1164 (Kan. 2013).

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State v. Lawson, 297 P.3d 1164 (Kan. 2013). · cites it 11× “Our current statute speaking to the entitlement of a defendant to the assistance of counsel is set forth in K.S.A. 22-4503, which provides in relevant part: “(a) A defendant charged by the state of Kansas in a complaint, information or indictment with any felony is entitled to…”

State v. Carr, 331 P.3d 544 (Kan. 2014). · cites it 3× “A. 22-4503). Having concluded that the nonevidentiary jury view in this case was not a critical stage of the proceeding, we also conclude that R.”

State v. Pfannenstiel, 357 P.3d 877 (Kan. 2015). · cites it 4× “at 187 -88 (citing K.S.A. 22-4503 (Ensley); State v. Andrews, 228 Kan.”

State v. Pierce, 787 P.2d 1189 (Kan. 1990). · cites it 7× “Defendant, in his brief, also makes reference to K.S.A. 22-4503 in asserting that a defendant is entitled to the appointment of counsel for every K.”

State v. Robinson, 132 P.3d 934 (Kan. 2006). · cites it 2× “If the defendant's assets and income are not sufficient to cover the anticipated cost of effective representation by employed counsel when the length and complexity of the anticipated proceedings are taken fully into account, the defendant shall be determined indigent in full or…”

State Ex Rel. Stephan v. Smith, 747 P.2d 816 (Kan. 1987). · cites it 3× “) *342 K.SA. 22-4503: “(a) A defendant charged by the state of Kansas in a complaint, information or indictment with any felony is entitled to have the assistance of counsel at every stage of the proceedings against such defendant and a defendant in an extradition proceeding, or…”

Montejo v. Louisiana, 556 U.S. 778 (2009). “, Kan. Stat. Ann. §22-4503 (c) (2007); and in *784 a number of others, appointment can be made either upon the defendant’s request or sua sponte by the court, e.”

State v. Kingsley, 851 P.2d 370 (Kan. 1993). · cites it 3× “22-3501 and which is principally for the purpose of calling to the attention of the trial court alleged trial errors is a stage of the criminal proceedings within the purview of K.S.A. 1979 Supp. 22-4503, and counsel must be provided to an indigent defendant for the purposes of…”

State v. Andrews, 614 P.2d 447 (Kan. 1980). · cites it 4× “S.A. 22-2710, is entitled to have assistance of counsel at such proceeding.”

State v. Betancourt, 342 P.3d 916 (Kan. 2015). · cites it 2× “3d 1164 (2013), Betancourt also argues his statements should have been suppressed because he was denied his right to counsel under the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution and K.S.A. 22-4503. But Betancourt does not cite to any point during the interrogation where…”

State v. Hawkins, 176 P.3d 174 (Kan. 2008). · cites it 2× “22-4529 provides, in relevant part: *851 “Any defendant entitled to counsel pursuant to K.S.A. 22-4503, and amendments thereto shall pay an application fee in the amount of .”

Kargus v. State, 169 P.3d 307 (Kan. 2007). · cites it 2× “First, K.S.A. 2006 Supp. 22-4503(a) provides that a defendant charged with a felony “is entitled to have assistance of counsel at every stage of the proceedings against such defendant.”

Show all 47 citing cases →

— K.S.A. § 22-4503(a) — 14 cases

State v. Lawson, 297 P.3d 1164 (Kan. 2013). “Our current statute speaking to the entitlement of a defendant to the assistance of counsel is set forth in K.S.A. 22-4503, which provides in relevant part: “(a) A defendant charged by the state of Kansas in a complaint, information or indictment with any felony is entitled to…”

Kargus v. State, 169 P.3d 307 (Kan. 2007). “First, K.S.A. 2006 Supp. 22-4503(a) provides that a defendant charged with a felony “is entitled to have assistance of counsel at every stage of the proceedings against such defendant.”

State v. Pierce, 787 P.2d 1189 (Kan. 1990). “Defendant, in his brief, also makes reference to K.S.A. 22-4503 in asserting that a defendant is entitled to the appointment of counsel for every K.”

Merryfield v. State, 241 P.3d 573 (Kan. Ct. App. 2010).

State v. Sharkey, 322 P.3d 325 (Kan. 2014).

— K.S.A. § 22-4503(b) — 2 cases

State v. Kirkpatrick, 184 P.3d 247 (Kan. 2008).

Landrum v. Goering (Kan. 2017).

— K.S.A. § 22-4503(c) — 3 cases

State Ex Rel. Stephan v. Smith, 747 P.2d 816 (Kan. 1987). “) *342 K.SA. 22-4503: “(a) A defendant charged by the state of Kansas in a complaint, information or indictment with any felony is entitled to have the assistance of counsel at every stage of the proceedings against such defendant and a defendant in an extradition proceeding, or…”

Clark v. Ivy, 727 P.2d 493 (Kan. 1986).

Landrum v. Goering (Kan. 2017).

— K.S.A. § 22-4503(d) — 1 case

— K.S.A. § 22-4503(e) — 1 case

Landrum v. Goering (Kan. 2017).

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