NATCHEZ — A new system for assigning lawyers to pro bono cases should cut down on costs and confusion in the courts.

Circuit Court Judge Forest “Al” Johnson said he, Judge Lillie Blackmon Sanders and the Adams County Board of Supervisors identified a problem with the way cases were handled in justice circuit court a long time ago, and the new system, which was implemented Oct. 1, should be more efficient in terms of scheduling and finances.

When defendants cannot afford to pay for legal representation, indigent lawyers are appointed in circuit court and in pretrial hearings in justice court for felony cases.

In the past, when felony cases moved to circuit court, the same lawyer may have remained with the accused, or another lawyer might have been assigned.

Starting Oct. 1, nine lawyers participating in the indigent system will stick to a single courtroom and be paid a flat rate rather than on a per case basis.

Kevin Colbert, Tim Cotton, Carmen Brooks, Anthony Heidelberg and Eileen Maher will take indigent cases in circuit court. Scott Slover, Scott Pintard and Zach Jex will take indigent cases in justice court, and Pam Ferrington will take indigent cases in municipal court.

Adams County Board of Supervisors President Darryl Grennell said the supervisors requested the circuit court judges develop a method of reducing defense costs for indigent cases as far back as three or four years ago.

Grennell said the supervisors met with the circuit judges three years ago, when indigent lawyer costs for the county had jumped from $125,000 in the 2006 fiscal year to $182,000 in 2007.

More recently, the county paid $280,000 for indigent lawyer fees in the 2009 fiscal year and $183,000 in 2010.

To remedy an unpredictable and increasing number of indigent cases, the new system will pay each indigent lawyer the same flat fee in all courts by dividing the indigent lawyer fees budget among them.

The 2011 county budget includes $260,000 for indigent lawyer fees.

Johnson said the new system will divide the labor between the courts and create a cap on the defense budget.

“Financially it’s better for the county,” Johnson said.

Johnson said the problem has needed attention during past years because of a large increase in indigent cases.

“There’s been a lot more drug and theft cases,” Johnson said.

With the new system, each felony defendant will have two different lawyers once they reach circuit court. Johnson said the lawyers who see felony cases in the lower court levels will share details of the cases with circuit court lawyers if they advance to the higher court.

The new system will be more efficient, Johnson said.

“(The lawyers) don’t have to be in so many places at different times with the new system,” he said

Johnson said the attorneys involved are happy with the system, and he is hopeful it will operate more smoothly.

“It took a long (time) for that type of response from the judges, so it appears it is going to work out well,” Grennell said.

The new system is currently being implemented in the courts, although it does not yet have the board’s approval. Johnson said the system was implemented Oct. 1 because of the start of the fiscal year.

The system is in its early stages and flat rates are subject to change in the event that the number of lawyers changes or if a lawyer takes on an especially time-consuming case, such as a murder trial.