Resources for Clients
The following is a list of resources available to assist our clients both in seeking legal help through the Board of Indigents’ Defense and in finding help beyond what we can provide. These resources are not intended as a substitute for legal advice.
Getting an attorney appointed to your case.
BIDS public defenders and assigned counsel can only be appointed by a district court judge in adult, felony cases. If you have been charged with a felony and cannot afford an attorney, you can submit the following forms to the district court of the county where you are being charged. The district court will then determine if you qualify for a public defender or assigned counsel.
Getting an attorney for a civil matter.
While BIDS does not provide attorneys for civil matters, the following resources are available to assist with issues like family law, housing, employment, and immigration.
Filing a motion for ineffective assistance of counsel.
The Kansas Judicial Council provides forms, available here, to assist unrepresented litigants who wish to file a motion alleging ineffective assistance of counsel.
Filing a complaint about your attorney.
If you have a complaint about your current public defender, you are encouraged to first address your complaint with your public defender and their chief public defender. If that process is not satisfactory or if you have a complaint about a Kansas attorney who is not a public defender, the Kansas Supreme Court provides instructions for and information about the attorney complaint process here.