James v. Strange - 407 U.S. 128 (1972)

U.S. Supreme Court

James v. Strange, 407 U.S. 128 (1972)

James v. Strange

No. 71-11

Argued March 22, 1972

Decided June 12, 1972

407 U.S. 128

Syllabus

Kansas recoupment statute enabling State to recover in subsequent civil proceedings legal defense fees for indigent defendants, invalidated by District Court as an infringement on the right to counsel, held to violate the Equal Protection Clause in that, by virtue of the statute, indigent defendants are deprived of the array of protective exemptions Kansas has erected for other civil judgment debtors. Pp. 407 U. S. 129-142.

323 F.Supp. 1230, affirmed.

POWELL, J., delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court.