(a) The Public Defender Services Commission shall appoint: (1) A Chief Public Defender for a term of four years and until the appointment and qualification of his successor; and (2) a Deputy Chief Public Defender for a term of four years who shall assist the Chief Public Defender. The Deputy Chief Public Defender shall exercise the duties and powers of the Chief Public Defender in his absence or upon his designation. Any vacancy in the offices of Chief Public Defender or Deputy Chief Public Defender shall be filled by the commission for the balance of the term of the person he succeeds.

(b) The Chief Public Defender and Deputy Chief Public Defender shall be attorneys-at-law admitted to practice in this state for at least five years.

(c) The Chief Public Defender and the Deputy Chief Public Defender shall each devote his full time to the duties of his office and shall not otherwise engage in the practice of law or be a partner, member or associate of a law firm.

(d) The Chief Public Defender and Deputy Chief Public Defender shall not be removed or suspended from office during their terms except by order of the commission for just cause after due notice and hearing.

(e) The salaries of the Chief Public Defender and the Deputy Chief Public Defender shall be the same as that paid to the Chief State's Attorney and to deputy chief state's attorneys, respectively, under the provisions of chapter 886.

(P.A. 74-317, S. 2, 14; P.A. 75-530, S. 31, 35; P.A. 76-436, S. 575, 681; P.A. 82-248, S. 145.)

History: P.A. 75-530 changed deadline for appointment of chief public defender from April 1, 1975, to June 15, 1975; P.A. 76-436 specified that duty of deputy chief public defender is to assist the chief public defender rather than to “supervise public defender services in the court of common pleas”, reflecting transfer of all trial jurisdiction to superior court, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 82-248 rephrased and reorganized the section and inserted Subsec. indicators.