Questione giuridica chiave
Whether the authorities could reduce compensation for official counsel to the necessary work actually deemed required.
Decisione estratta
Yes. Only necessary expenses for the mandate must be compensated; the canton may disregard excessive or unnecessary work.
Motivazione estratta
The Federal Court held that official counsel performs a state function under cantonal public law, and compensation may be limited to work reasonably necessary in the case. There was no arbitrariness in relying on the authorities' file-based assessment of necessity.