Michigan Court Says Criminal Attorney Fees Orders Constitutional

Orders to pay defense attorney fees as part of criminal sentences don’t violate the Michigan Constitution, the state Court of Appeals ruled.

The language of the law allowing a judge to order a defendant to pay such fees “evidences the Legislature did not intend for it to be a fine,” a three-judge appeals panel said Friday in an unsigned opinion, rejecting defendant Sonya Javah Moore’s argument. Moore said such orders can’t be imposed because they impose a fine that isn’t used to pay for the operations of local libraries, as required by the state constitution.

The fees “directly relate” ...