IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE TENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

IN AND FOR HARDEE, HIGHLANDS AND POLK COUNTIES, FLORIDA

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 27.5304, Florida Statutes, private court-appointed counsel are now compensated for their services by the Justice Administrative Commission instead of the counties wherein the case is located, and

WHEREAS, Section 29.019, Florida Statutes, directs that billings for payment of court appointed counsel services must be paid by the counties if the services were rendered before July 1, 2004, but imposes no deadline as to when those billings must be submitted, and

WHEREAS, the Court has determined that a deadline should be imposed thereby providing the counties with a recognizable end to their responsibility for the payment of court-appointed attorney’s fees, it is accordingly

ORDERED that the deadline for submission of requests for payment of court-appointed attorney’s fees for services rendered prior to July 1, 2004 shall be June 30, 2005. Requests seeking compensation submitted after that date will be denied.

DONE AND ORDERED on this 10th day of February, 2005.

RONALD A. HERRING

Chief Judge