Conflict Public Defender Services

Napa County ("County") is requesting the submittal of statements of qualifications from attorneys or law firms who are interested in providing general and complex criminal legal defense services as a Conflict Public Defender ("CPD"). The County maintains a panel of five CPD's who provide criminal legal defense services to indigent defendants when the Public Defender has declared a conflict. The County is seeking to fill one or more of the five contracts at this time. The attorney or firm selected will provide services as independent contractors and are not being hired as County employees. This RFQ seeks to fill one or more CPD position, to commence on January 1, 2026, or at such other time as the services may be needed (in which case an addendum to the RFQ may be issued). An attorney or law firm may not hold more than one of the five CPD positions. It is generally contemplated that the workload of each CPD will require devotion to CPD services of roughly a full-time criminal defense attorney, but it could be a greater portion of time if serious felonies (defined in the CPD contract as Class 1 or Class 2 cases) are assigned to a CPD (in which case additional compensation is paid). In consideration of that time commitment, each CPD receives a stated monthly amount of base compensation. The base rate of compensation (the "Base Compensation") for the position will be $19,857 per month as of January 1, 2027 through June 30, 2027. That Base Compensation is subject to adjustment once each fiscal year as of July 1, based generally on the current salary for an Attorney IV, step 5 with the Napa County Public Defender's Office. If a new agreement with SEIU Local 1021 has not been adopted prior to the beginning of the fiscal year, the monthly compensation will increase by 3% until the new negotiated salary takes effect. Please note that the CPD contract will not allow compensation for the expense of traveling between the CPD's office and Napa, California. Additionally, the CPD contract will include the right to receive additional compensation for the defense of Class I and Class II cases (as defined in the contract), up to $3,500 per month for Class I and up to $2,500 per month for Class II cases, subject to stated maximums in any 18-month period for each such case. The CPD contract will have an initial term from January 1, 2027, through June 30, 2027. The terms of the contract will then automatically renew for a full fiscal year (July 1 through June 30 of the next year) at the end of the initial term and at the end of each fiscal year thereafter unless notice of non-renewal is given or unless the contract is previously terminated under its terms. Napa County has developed and approved a Conflict of Interest Code as required by state law which requires Attorney to file with the Elections Division of the Napa County Assessor-Clerk Recorder "assuming office," "annual," and "leaving office" Statements of Economic Interest as a "consultant" as defined in section 18701(a)(2) of Title 2 of the California Code of Regulations, unless it has been determined in writing that Attorney, although holding a "designated" position as a consultant, has been hired to perform a range of duties so limited in scope as to not be required to fully comply with such disclosure obligation. Attorney shall timely comply with all filing obligations for a consultant under County's Conflict of Interest Code unless such a determination is on file on the filing dates for each of the required Statements of Economic Interest.