Sec. 6. (a) For purposes of this section, the term "board" includes a joint board created by an interlocal agreement under section 3.5 of this chapter.
(b) If a county or multicounty public defender's office is established under this chapter, the board shall do the following:
(1) Recommend to the county fiscal body or (in the case of a multicounty public defender's office) the fiscal body of each county that is a participant in the interlocal agreement under section 3.5 of this chapter an annual operating budget for the county or multicounty public defender's office.
(2) Appoint a county or multicounty public defender.
(3) Submit an annual report to the county executive, the county fiscal body, and the judges described in section 3 of this chapter regarding the operation of the county or multicounty public defender's office, including information relating to caseloads and expenditures.
(c) A county or multicounty public defender shall be appointed for a term not less than four (4) years and may be reappointed. The county or multicounty public defender may be removed from office only upon a showing of good cause. An attorney must be admitted to the practice of law in Indiana for at least two (2) years before the attorney is eligible for appointment as a county or multicounty public defender.
[Pre-2004 Recodification Citation: 33-9-15-6.]
As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.19. Amended by P.L.69-2019, SEC.7.
Structure Indiana Code
Title 33. Courts and Court Officers
Chapter 7. County Public Defender Boards
33-40-7-1. Application of Chapter
33-40-7-3. Establishment of Board; Members; Terms; Chairperson; Meetings; Termination
33-40-7-3.5. Creation of Multicounty Public Defender's Office; Joint Board
33-40-7-4. Reimbursement for Expenses
33-40-7-6. Duties of Board; Term, Removal, and Qualifications of County Public Defender
33-40-7-7. Duties of County or Multicounty Public Defender
33-40-7-8. Contracts to Provide Legal Representation
33-40-7-9. Assigned Counsel System
33-40-7-10. Court Appointment of Counsel or Co-Counsel