(A) There is created within the Office of Indigent Defense, the Division of Appellate Defense. All of the allied, advisory, affiliated, or related entities as well as the employees, funds, property, and all contractual rights and obligations associated with the commission and Office of Appellate Defense formerly provided in Chapter 4, Title 17 are transferred to and incorporated in and must be administered as part of the Office of Indigent Defense.
(B) The division must be administered by a chief attorney. The staff of the division shall consist of additional attorneys and administrative, investigative, secretarial, and clerical employees necessary to discharge the duties of the division. No person may be hired to serve as an attorney who is not licensed to practice law in this State. Attorneys employed by the division shall devote full time to their duties and may not engage in the private practice of law.
(C) The division shall carry out the following duties and responsibilities:
(1) It shall represent a person who the office determines, subject to court review, falls within the guidelines promulgated pursuant to Section 17-3-310(G)(2) who files Notice of Intention to Appeal or desires to appeal a conviction in a trial court, or decision of a proceeding in civil commitment or other voluntary placement in a state, county, or municipal facility. A person desiring representation by the division shall request a determination of his indigency status in writing from the Supreme Court, the court of appeals, the circuit or family court, or the division. A court receiving a request for indigent appellate representation shall forward the request to the office who, within ten days of the receipt of the request for representation, shall notify the person requesting representation and the court in which the appeal will be effected of its decision.
(2) Upon a finding that a person requesting representation qualifies as an indigent and after being appointed as counsel for this person by the court in which the appeal will be effected, the division shall represent this person in his appeal of a conviction in a trial court, or decision of a proceeding in civil commitment or other involuntary placement in a state, county, or municipal facility, provided nothing in this article requires the division to pursue an appeal unless the chief attorney of the division is first satisfied that there is arguable merit to the appeal.
(3) It shall represent indigents, other than at trial or commitment proceedings when appointed by the court.
(4) It shall represent indigents in appeals of convictions in trial courts of this State, or decisions of civil commitment proceedings or other involuntary placement only in courts of this State.
HISTORY: 2005 Act No. 103, Section 2, eff July 1, 2005; 2007 Act No. 108, Section 7, eff June 21, 2007.
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 17 - Criminal Procedures
Chapter 3 - Defense Of Indigents
Section 17-3-10. Persons entitled to counsel shall be so advised; when counsel shall be provided.
Section 17-3-20. Appointment of counsel for indigents charged with murder; compensation.
Section 17-3-40. Creation of claim against assets and estate of person for whom counsel is provided.
Section 17-3-55. Carry-forward of unpaid obligations.
Section 17-3-110. Power of Supreme Court to establish rules and regulations.
Section 17-3-310. Commission created; appointment of members; terms; powers and duties.
Section 17-3-320. Office of Indigent Defense; executive director; appointment; duties.
Section 17-3-330. Duties of Office of Indigent Defense.
Section 17-3-340. Duties of commission.
Section 17-3-370. Appointment of counsel by court.
Section 17-3-520. Circuit public defender; qualifications; responsibilities.
Section 17-3-530. Chief county public defenders; responsibilities and duties.
Section 17-3-540. Maintenance and staffing of county public defender offices.
Section 17-3-560. Administration of funds.
Section 17-3-570. Administration of personnel.
Section 17-3-580. Public defenders; requirements as to employment.
Section 17-3-590. Office space and equipment.
Section 17-3-600. Existing contracts for providing indigent defense services.