What period does the per diem allowance cover?
The per diem allowance covers your round-trip travel time and the time you attend to your appeal-related function, e.g., your court appearance. According to the Statewide Travel Guidelines for appointed counsel, per diem expenses apply only to a necessary overnight trip. Round-trip travel time from your home or office to the site of the function includes only your actual travel time. Time taken in transit for personal reasons is not covered. The per diem applies from the beginning to the end of the appeal-related function. For some early morning court appearances, the designated beginning may be the evening before in order to allow a timely appearance at court. (Counsel are urged to request an afternoon calendaring if possible.) If for personal reasons you choose to arrive early or stay on after the function ends, you must deduct that time from your per diem claim.
