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AGREEMBNT FOR KITTITAS COUNTY UPPER DISTRICT COURT INDIGENT DEFENSE SERVTCES (2026) This agreement is entered into by and between the County of Kittitas (County), a political subdivision of the State of Washington, and Robert Taylor (Contracting Attorney, WSBA #61e72). 1. Scope of Services. The Contracting Attorney agrees to provide, or affange for the provision of, public defender services for all eligible indigent criminal defendants in cases filed in the Upper District Court (Coun) as set forth in this agreement. The Contracting Attorney or other assigned counsel shallprovide legalrepresentation for each assigned defendant from the time of receiving notice of appointment through every stage of the legal proceedings at the Upper District court level including sentencing and the processing of notices of appeal and motions for orders of indigence for direct appeals. After the termination of this agreement. All cases assigned to the Contracting Attorney as of the date of termination of this contract for which the next set hearing date is within 180 days after such date of termination will be handled as set forth above; provided, that in any case where the client fails to appear for a trial or hearing after termination of the contract, the Contracting Attorney may withdraw from representation subject to order of the court and as allowed by court rule and thereafter the Contracting Attorney shall have no obligation herein to represent the client or accept reappointment thereafter. 2. Attorney as Independent Contractor. The parties recognize and affirm the understanding that the Attorney is an independent contractor having no relationship to the County except to provide professional legal defense services to the persons officially assigned to the Attorney pursuant to this Contract. Neither the Attorney nor any employee of the Attorney is an employee of the County. Neither the Attorney nor any employee of the Attorney is entitled to any benefits that the County provides its employees. The Attorney will provide the Kittitas County Department of Public Defense with proof of a valid Washington Uniform Business Identification number before commencement of work. The Attomey is solely responsible for the timely payment of any taxes, assessments, statutory workers compensation, or employer's liability insurance as required by Federal or State law for the Attorney and any employees of the Attorney. The Attorney guarantees such payment and will indemnify the County in that regard, and as provided in Paragraph 8 of this agreement 3. Applicant Screening. Determination of Indigence for purposes of eligibility for appointed counsel under this contract shall be made by a screening process established by the Court. Counsel is under no obligation to determine a person's eligibility or continuing eligibility to receive publicly provided representation. However, if counsel subsequently discovers that such person may not be eligible to receive publicly provided representation under applicable laws, rules and standards, Counsel, if able to do so within the bounds of applicable ethical rules/ professional standards, shall promptly notifi the Kittitas County Department of Public Defense of such possibility.