27700. The board of supervisors of any county may establish the office of public defender for the county. Any county may join with one or more counties to establish and maintain the office of public defender to serve such counties. (Amended by Stats. 1949, Ch. 1288.)
27701. A person is not eligible to the office of public defender unless he has been a practicing attorney in all of the courts of the State for at least the year preceding the date of his election or appointment. (Added by Stats. 1947, Ch. 424.)
27702. At the time of establishing the office the board of supervisors shall determine whether the public defender is to be appointed or elected. (Added by Stats. 1947, Ch. 424.)
27703. If the public defender of any county is to be appointed, he shall be appointed by the board of supervisors to serve at its will. The public defender of any two or more counties shall be appointed by the boards of supervisors of such counties. (Amended by Stats. 1949, Ch. 1288.)
27704. If the public defender is to be elected: (a) The board of supervisors shall appoint a public defender who shall hold office until the first Monday in January following the next general election of county officers. (b) The first election of a public defender shall be held at the first general election of county officials after […]
27705. In counties of the first, second and third classes, the public defender shall devote all his time to the duties of his office and shall not engage in the practice of law except in the capacity of public defender. (Amended by Stats. 1949, Ch. 1288.)
27705.1. A public defender shall not during his incumbency defend or assist in the defense of, or act as counsel for, any person accused of any crime in any county, except as set forth in this chapter. (Added by Stats. 1949, Ch. 1288.)
27706. The public defender shall perform the following duties: (a) Upon request of the defendant or upon order of the court, the public defender shall defend, without expense to the defendant, any person who is not financially able to employ counsel and who is charged with the commission of any contempt or offense triable in the […]
27707. (a) The court in which the proceeding is pending may make the final determination in each case as to whether a defendant or person described in Section 27706 is financially able to employ counsel and qualifies for the services of the public defender. The public defender shall, however, render legal services as provided in subdivisions […]
27707.1. The boards of supervisors of two or more counties may authorize their respective public defenders to enter into reciprocal or mutual assistance agreements whereby a deputy public defender of one county may be assigned on a temporary basis to perform public defender duties in the county to which he has been assigned in actions […]
27708. In each county the board of supervisors shall provide suitable rooms for the use of the public defender and office furniture and supplies with which to properly conduct the business of his office. Such expenses are a charge upon the county or counties in which the public defender is employed. (Amended by Stats. 1949, […]
27709. The expense of printing or typewriting the briefs on appeal on behalf of a defendant represented by a public defender is a county charge. (Amended by Stats. 1949, Ch. 1288.)
27710. The public defender shall keep a record of all services rendered by him in that capacity and shall file with the board or boards of supervisors annually a written report of his services. (Amended by Stats. 1949, Ch. 1288.)
27711. The annual salary of each public defender shall be such as has been or may be fixed by the county or counties. (Added by Stats. 1949, Ch. 1288.)
