Section 16-303 – Regional Advisory Boards
(a) There are four regional advisory boards of the Office. (b) Each regional advisory board consists of five members appointed by the Governor. (c) Of the four regional advisory boards: (1) the first shall advise public defender districts one, eight, and nine, which encompass Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Harford County; (2) the second shall advise public defender districts two […]
Section 16-304 – Duties of Regional Advisory Boards
Each regional advisory board shall: (1) study and observe the operation of district public defender offices; and (2) advise the Public Defender and district public defenders on panels of attorneys, fees, and other matters about the operation of district public defender offices and the public defender system.
Section 16-401 – Annual Report of Public Defender
(a) On or before September 30 of each year, the Public Defender shall submit a report to: (1) the Board of Trustees; (2) the Governor; and (3) in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly. (b) The report shall include: (1) pertinent data about the operations of the Office, including projected needs, a breakdown of the […]
Section 16-402 – Appropriations
Funds for carrying out this title shall be as provided in the State budget.
Section 16-403 – Severability
(a) The provisions of this title are severable. (b) The invalidity of a provision of this title does not affect other provisions that can be given effect without the invalid provision.
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 […]
Section 16-210 – Eligibility for Services
(a) An individual may apply for services of the Office as an indigent individual, if the individual states in writing under oath or affirmation that the individual, without undue financial hardship, cannot provide the full payment of an attorney and all other necessary expenses of representation in proceedings listed under § 16–204(b) of this subtitle. (b) For […]