Section 16-102 – Scope of Title
Except as otherwise provided in § 16–206 of this title, this title applies only to representation in or with respect to the courts of the State.
Section 16-201 – Policy of State
It is the policy of the State to: (1) provide for the realization of the constitutional guarantees of counsel in the representation of indigent individuals, including related necessary services and facilities, in criminal and juvenile proceedings in the State; (2) assure the effective assistance and continuity of counsel to indigent accused individuals taken into custody and indigent […]
Section 16-202 – Office of the Public Defender Established
There is an Office of the Public Defender in the Executive Branch of State government.
Section 16-203 – Office Personnel
(a) (1) The head of the Office is the Public Defender. (2) The Public Defender shall be appointed by the Board of Trustees. (3) By a vote of at least seven members, the Board of Trustees may remove the Public Defender for: (i) misconduct in office; (ii) persistent failure to perform the duties of the Office; or (iii) conduct prejudicial to the […]
Section 16-204 – Representation of Indigent Individual
(a) Representation of an indigent individual may be provided in accordance with this title by the Public Defender or, subject to the supervision of the Public Defender, by the deputy public defender, district public defenders, assistant public defenders, or panel attorneys. (b) (1) Indigent defendants or parties shall be provided representation under this title in: (i) a criminal or […]
Section 16-205 – Termination of Representation
Representation of an indigent individual by the Office or by a panel attorney shall continue until the final disposition of the case or until the assigned attorney is relieved by the Public Defender or order of the court in which the case is pending.
Section 16-206 – Representation in Federal Court
(a) This title does not prohibit the Office from representing an indigent individual in federal court at federal expense if the matter arises out of or is related to an action pending or recently pending in a court of criminal jurisdiction of the State. (b) Compensation paid by the federal court to the Public Defender, the deputy […]
Section 16-207 – Duties and Powers of Public Defender
(a) The primary duty of the Public Defender is to provide representation for indigent individuals in accordance with this title. (b) The Public Defender shall: (1) be responsible generally for the operation of the Office and all district offices; (2) prepare schedules of professional fees and expenses for panel attorneys and other professional and technical services rendered to indigent […]
Section 16-208 – Panel Attorneys
(a) (1) Subject to the authority and supervision of the Public Defender, each district public defender shall maintain a confidential list of private attorneys available to be appointed as attorneys for indigent individuals eligible for representation under this title. (2) Each attorney on the list shall be: (i) admitted to practice law in the State; and (ii) placed on various […]
Section 16-209 – Privileged Communications
(a) Communications between an indigent individual and an individual in the Office or engaged by the Public Defender are protected by the attorney–client privilege to the same extent as though an attorney had been privately engaged. (b) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, this section does not preclude the Public Defender from using material in the […]