Rule 35 Costs for Court-ordered Examinations and Evaluations, Court-appointed Experts, and Court-appointed Counsel

When a court orders things like mental health evaluations, expert witnesses, or lawyers for people who can't afford one, someone has to pay for those services. This rule makes clear that the Judicial Department (the courts themselves) isn't the one responsible for paying those bills.

In simple terms, just because a judge orders an evaluation or appoints an expert or lawyer doesn't mean the court system will cover the cost. The rule doesn't say who does have to pay. It only clarifies that the obligation doesn't fall on the courts.

This matters for defendants and attorneys because it means funding for these services has to come from somewhere else, like county or state budgets, rather than from the judiciary. If there are disputes about who pays for a court-ordered evaluation or appointed counsel, this rule confirms the courts aren't automatically on the hook for those expenses.