RMCLR 3.1
                          RIGHT TO A LAWYER


   (a) The right to a lawyer shall extend to all criminal proceedings for
offenses punishable by loss of liberty.

   (b) Unless waived, a lawyer shall be provided to any person who is
financially unable to obtain one without causing substantial hardship
to the person or to the person's family. A lawyer shall not be denied
to any person merely because his or her friends or relatives have
resources adequate to retain a lawyer or because he or she has posted
or is capable of posting bond.

   (c) The ability to pay part of the cost of a lawyer shall not preclude
assignment. The assignment of a lawyer may be conditioned upon partial
payment pursuant to an established method of collection.

   (d) The court, upon motion of a defendant, shall screen said defendant for
the purposes of determining whether the defendant is indigent. The
court may consider any factors regarding indigence it deems
appropriate. The court may require proof of income at its discretion.

   (e) A defendant may waive their right to be represented by an attorney. The
court shall require all defendants entering a plea of guilty in the
absence of an attorney to complete a Renton Municipal Court Waiver of
Right to Attorney form. The court shall enter findings regarding
whether the defendant made a knowing and voluntary waiver of an
attorney before accepting a guilty plea or setting a case for trial.


[Adopted Effective September1, 2001]