The Department of Public Defense (DPD) authorizes funding for expert services and other case-related resources for DPD clients and for clients with retained counsel found to be financially eligible. The authority and process for expert services authorization is established in CrR 3.1. Pursuant to that rule, this judicial function has been delegated to DPD. The department authorizes two Expert Services Administrative Attorneys (ESAAs) who function as judicial officers in reviewing requests for expert services and case-related resources. The ESAAs are experienced criminal defense attorneys but are not DPD employees and operate independently of DPD. DPD's two ESAAs are Dan Norman and Jennifer Kaplan, both of whom have extensive experience in criminal defense and the use of expert services. 

The core aspects of the expert services process include:

• Expert Services Administrative Attorneys functioning as judicial officers independently of DPD.
• Requests for expert services require a motion, certification/declaration, and order.
• Pleadings should be of the same high quality as submitted to a judge.
• The end product is a court order setting forth the terms and scope of the authorization.

The information below provides instructions on the process, as well as forms for the necessary motions, certification/declarations, and orders. For more detailed information, review DPD's Expert Services Policy. For more information about DPD's expert services policy, please review this PowerPoint: A Guide to Expert Services. 

Expert Services Requests

• Attorneys are responsible for finding the appropriate expert or service and establishing the most cost-effective means to accomplish the desired goal or task. Be sure to review the DPD expert fee guidelines.
• Electronic submission of materials is required. Submit the Motion/Declaration and proposed Order by email to DPD-ExpertRequests@kingcounty.gov. Counsel should refer to the Expert Services Request Checklist to ensure their requests are correctly completed.
• If a request is modified or denied, that decision can be appealed to the Chief Criminal Presiding Judge. The appeal submission must include the Expert Services Administrative Attorney's written ruling denying the request.
• View examples of successful/high-quality expert services requests here.

Expert Services Request Forms

Superior Court Cases

• Order Authorizing Expert Services at Public Expense
• Motion and Certification for Expert Services at Public Expense
• Motion and Order to Seal Documents 
• Motion and Protective Order for Expert Witness and Services Funding Request 
• Order Appointing Independent Expert or Professional Person and Directing Payment to be Reimbursed by DSHS

District Court Cases

• Order Authorizing Expert Services at Public Expense
• Motion and Certification for Expert Services at Public Expense
• Motion and Order to Seal Documents 
• Motion and Protective Order for Expert Witness and Services Funding Request
• Order Appointing Independent Expert or Professional Person and Directing Payment to be Reimbursed by DSHS 

Travel Forms

• Travel Authorization Form (for King County employees only)

Expert Services Tips

• Be sure that all your documentation is accurate. Double-check case name and number and ensure that supporting documentation has current dates.
• DPD staff does not have the authority to modify pleadings. Expert services requests that are incomplete or contain errors will be returned to counsel.
• Please immediately contact DPD Expert Services if your expert has any change in contact information, such as address or email.
• Make sure that your Order Authorizing Expert Services at Public Expense has a current date at the bottom and that you have included the business name/DBA of your expert.
• DPD prefers to process expert travel expenses that involve flight, accommodation, and/or car rental through Tangerine Travel.
• Billing affidavits must be signed by both the attorney and the expert. E-signatures (s/Your Name) are encouraged. The billing affidavit must include billing period start and end date, as well as the grand total.
• Please review the billing instructions for details of the payment process. These are attached to the same email you received from DPDExpertConsultant@kingcounty.gov when your order was approved.
• Investigators must attach timesheets showing the date and time spent on each case-related activity and the total time corresponding with those activities on the billing affidavit.
• Billing affidavits for transcription services must be accompanied by an itemized invoice clearly showing the calculation of costs of each transcript as well as the total.
• Receipts must be attached for all expenses greater than $10.00.

Commonly Used Experts

DPD maintains a contact list of commonly used experts and investigators. Attorneys are not required to use the experts and investigators on this list, and the experts and investigators included on this list are not pre-approved or vetted by DPD. The expert and investigator list is available upon request. Please contact Krystyna Weberg at kweberg@kingcounty.gov. The Washington Defender Association also maintains an expert bank.

Helpful Contacts

• New requests and queries on previously-submitted requests are sent to DPD-ExpertRequests@kingcounty.gov
• Queries on approved orders and billing affidavits are sent to DPDExpertConsultant@kingcounty.gov
• Final expert bills and queries are sent to DPD-ExpertBilling@kingcounty.gov
• General inquiries concerning expert requests or expert billing should be sent to DPD-Paralegal@kingcounty.gov
• Expert service questions related to experts already approved should be sent to Wanzirai Pretlow at wpretlow@kingcounty.gov