Williamson County Commissioners approved a settlement Nov. 20 in a lawsuit concerning the county's methods of appointing defense lawyers for indigent defendants in misdemeanor cases.

The suit, filed by Kerry Heckman in 2006, was brought against the commissioners and County Court at Law judges 1, 2 and 3. It was dismissed in 2009 but reinstated by the Texas Supreme Court in 2011 to officially resolve procedural issues.

Statewide guidelines for processing the requests for legal counsel in misdemeanor cases were implemented in 2007.

The case, filed by former criminal defendants from Williamson County, alleged that the county refused to appoint proper legal counsel and open public court proceedings to defendants who could be classified as homeless or unable to pay for legal defense.

Though it was originally upheld by a trial court, the case was later dismissed by the 3rd Court of Appeals. It was then taken before the Texas Supreme Court when the plaintiffs appealed the appellate court decision.

The Supreme Court ruled the case must go back to the trial court to determine if intervening changes in the county's procedures were appropriate, according to a statement by Hank Prejean, civil chief for the county attorney's office.

With the settlement, the county has agreed to undergo routine audits and reviews of statistical information from how its applications for indigent defense are reviewed and processed, according to a county news release.

"The settlement agreement is a good resolution of the case for Williamson County, and it avoids future costly and time-consuming litigation," Prejean said.