Sacramento County Municipal Code Ch. 2.54 Public Defender

Note: For statutory provisions pertaining to the public defender, see Gov. Code § 27700 et seq.

The office of public defender is hereby established in the County.

(Ord. 339 § 1, 1948)

The public defender shall be appointed by the Board of Supervisors and shall serve at the pleasure of the Board.

(Ord. 339 § 2, 1948)

A person is not eligible to appointment to the office of public defender unless he has been a practicing attorney in all of the courts of the state for at least two years preceding the date of his appointment.

(Ord. 339 § 3, 1948; Ord. 413 § 1, 1952)

The salary of the public defender and his deputies shall be fixed and provided for in the annual salary ordinance of the County.

(Ord. 339 § 4, 1948; Ord. 352 § 1, 1949; Ord. 413 § 2, 1952)

Upon request of the defendant and 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, misdemeanor triable in the Superior Court, or felony. The public defender shall, upon request, give counsel and advice to such person about any such charge against him upon which the public defender is conducting the defense, and shall prosecute all appeals to a higher court or courts of any person who has been convicted in the Superior Court, where, in his opinion, the appeal will or might reasonably be expected to result in the reversal or modification of the judgment of conviction.

(Ord. 339 § 5, 1948)

The Board of Supervisors shall provide suitable office space, office furniture, supplies and stenographic services for the carrying on of the duties of the office of public defender.

(Ord. 339 § 6, 1948; Ord. 352 § 2, 1949)

The public defender shall keep a record of all services rendered by him in that capacity and shall file with the Board of Supervisors annually a written report of his services.

(Ord. 339 § 7, 1948)