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 […]
Section 16-211 – Reimbursement for Services
(a) (1) If it appears that an indigent individual has or reasonably expects to have means to meet some of the expenses for services rendered, the indigent individual shall reimburse the Office: (i) by a single payment or in installments; and (ii) in the amount that the indigent individual can reasonably be expected to pay. (2) A default or failure […]
Section 16-212 – Liens
(a) The reasonable value of the services rendered to an indigent individual in accordance with this title is a lien on real or personal property in which the indigent individual has or acquires an interest, except for the residence of the indigent individual. (b) To perfect the lien, the Public Defender shall submit to the court having […]
Section 16-213 – Effect of Subtitle
This subtitle does not prohibit the appointment of an attorney, other than through the Office, to represent an indigent individual by the District Court, a circuit court, or the Court of Special Appeals if: (1) there is a conflict in legal representation in a matter involving multiple defendants, and one of the defendants is represented by […]
Section 16-301 – Board of Trustees
(a) There is a Board of Trustees of the Office of the Public Defender. (b) The Board of Trustees consists of 13 members. (c) (1) Each member of the Board of Trustees shall be a resident of the State. (2) 11 members of the Board of Trustees shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the […]
Section 16-101 – Definitions
(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. (b) “Board of Trustees” means the Board of Trustees of the Office of the Public Defender established under § 16–301 of this title. (c) “District” means an area conforming to the geographic boundaries of a District Court district established in § 1–602 of the Courts Article. (d) “Indigent […]
Section 16-302 – Duties of Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees shall: (1) study and observe the operation of the Office; (2) coordinate the activities of the regional advisory boards; and (3) advise the Public Defender on panels of attorneys, fees, and other matters about the operation of the public defender system.
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.