Glen Rock October 12, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 3 Borough to charge for public defender’s services by John Koster The Glen Rock Borough Council has introduced an ordinance that would charge fees of up to $200 from defendants who request the services of the Glen Rock Public Defender when they appear in municipal court. The ordinance provides that the fee may be waived if the defendant cannot afford to pay for professional counsel out of his or her own pocket. This ordinance was introduced on Oct. 5 and will be considered for final adoption on Oct. 12. Public defenders are attorneys who are approved by the court, kept on a small retainer, and assigned to provide legal counsel for those accused persons who request their services. Defendants generally need to demonstrate that they cannot hire an attorney at their own expense. The concept is that no one should be deprived of legal counsel due to poverty. The ordinance as introduced states: “Any person applying for representation by a municipal public defender shall pay an application fee of the municipal court of not more than $200. The municipal court judge may waive any required application fee, in whole or in part, if the court determines in its discretion that the application fee represents an unreasonable burden upon the person seeking representation.” The tacit purpose of the ordinance appeared to some observers to focus on discouraging frivolous litigation at the cost of the taxpayer by people who believe they have issues with the community and who could afford an attorney at their own expense if they so desired.