Low pay rates lead to attorney shortage for courts

Corey Murray, Hillsdale Daily News
·2 min read

HILLSDALE — Hillsdale County has a shortage of contract attorneys willing to take on cases in the Probate Court's abuse and neglect docket.

Part of the problem, according to local attorney Kimm Burger and Probate Judge Michelle Bianchi is that Hillsdale County only pays contract attorneys for such cases $60 an hour.

Elsewhere in Michigan, attorneys working these types of cases bill anywhere from $200 an hour to $400 an hour with the average being $300 an hour.

Bianchi spoke at length during the Dec. 26 Hillsdale County Board of Commissioners meeting on the issue while Burger listened in from the audience.

Hillsdale County is mandated by law to provide counsel to children and parents in cases where children have been removed from their parent's care, Bianchi said.

The $60 an hour approved previously by the Hillsdale County Board of Commissioners deters local attorneys and does nothing to bring in attorneys from outside of Hillsdale County.

To better assist the Probate Court with meeting its lawful requirements Bianchi requested the commissioners increase the hourly rate to $100 an hour immediately.

Burger added that defense attorneys in misdemeanor cases that are unlikely to result in jail time to a defendant are billed at $118 an hour under the Indigent Defense budget.

Burger added that she herself avoids taking on some of the caseload in the probate court due to the low-end rates which "are not even worth billing."

The commissioners did not take immediate action on Bianchi's request, instead pushing the issue to its budget committee, chaired by Commissioner Brent Leininger.

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Hillsdale County has had difficulties in the past recruiting law enforcement officers to the Hillsdale County Sheriff's Office due to lower-than-average pay scales.

Other county departments such as the treasurer's office and the county's Drain Commission have also had difficulties recruiting appropriate candidates due to low pay scales.

It is unknown when the budget committee may address Bianchi's concerns.

— Contact Reporter Corey Murray at cmurray@hillsdale.net or follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @cmurrayHDN.

This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Low pay rates lead to attorney shortage for courts