Lyon County Releases Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Public Defense Services

Yerington, Nevada – Lyon County is requesting qualifications from attorneys and/or law firms interested in contracting for public defender services for indigent defendants appearing to answer criminal charges primarily in the Walker River Justice Court, the Third Judicial District Court, Drug Court, and the City of Yerington Municipal Court. These courts are all located in Yerington, Nevada. This contract will also include providing conflict counsel for cases in the Canal Township Justice Court in Fernley, Nevada and the Dayton Justice Court in Dayton, Nevada.

The term of the contract will be three years initially, beginning July 1, 2024 and concluding June 30, 2027. The contract shall be for an amount of $480,000, annually, payable in equal monthly installments for the provision of all indigent defense services as outlined herein. Bail hearings will also be compensated an additional $900 per full weekend worked (with a rotational schedule, maintained by the County, between three firms), for such time as they are funded by the State of Nevada. There will also be a separate contract in the amount of $24,000, annually and payable in equal monthly installments, for indigent defense services for the City of Yerington Municipal Court.

The RFQ is available on the County’s website or may be obtained at the Lyon County Clerk Treasurer’s Office, 27 S. Main Street, Yerington, Nevada, 89447.

To ensure consideration of your RFQ application, responses must be received by noon on May 28, 2024. No faxed or telephone applications will be accepted. The RFQ timeline should result in a selection of a public defender by June 6, 2024.