SECTION 174.1. Appointment in Criminal Cases

An Attorney who meets the requirements of this rule may be appointed to represent an indigent person arrested for or charged with a crime, if the attorney is otherwise eligible under the procedures developed under Article 26.04, Code of Criminal Procedure. Crime has the meaning assigned by §173.102(3). An attorney may be appointed under this rule only if an attorney:

(1) Completes a minimum of six hours of continuing legal education pertaining to criminal law during each 12-month reporting period. The judges of criminal courts of the county shall set the 12-month reporting period applicable to the jurisdiction. Continuing legal education may include activities accredited under Section 4, Article XII, State Bar Rules, self-study, teaching at an accredited continuing legal education activity, attendance at a law school class or legal research-based writing. The judges may require attorneys to complete more than the minimum number of hours of continuing legal education in criminal law in the procedures developed under Article 26.04, Code of Criminal Procedure; or

(2) Is currently certified in criminal law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Source Note: The provisions of this §174.1 adopted to be effective April 27, 2003, 28 TexReg 3493; amended to be effective January 10, 2018, 43 TexReg 229