sb140_As_introduced_LC_36_0435_2.html
07 LC 36 0435
Senate Bill 140
By: Senators Smith of the 52nd, Wiles of the 37th and Johnson of the 1st

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT


To amend Article 2 of Chapter 12 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to public defenders, so as to change the composition of the circuit public defender selection panels; to change certain provisions about the removal of circuit public defenders; to change the term of certain circuit public defenders; to correct a cross-reference; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.
Article 2 of Chapter 12 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to public defenders, is amended in Code Section 17-12-3, relating to creation and membership of the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council, by revising paragraph (6) of subsection (b) as follows:
"(6) Any vacancy for a member appointed pursuant to paragraph (3) of this subsection shall be the successor to the circuit public defender as set forth in subsection (d) (e) of Code Section 17-12-20."

SECTION 2.
Said article is further amended by revising Code Section 17-12-20, relating to public defender selection panel for each circuit, appointment and removal of circuit public defenders, and vacancies, as follows:
"17-12-20.
(a) There is created in each judicial circuit in the this state a circuit public defender selection panel to be composed of five seven members. The membership shall be composed of one member each appointed by the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia, and the chief judge of the superior court of the circuit shall each appoint one member. The Governor shall appoint three members, two of which shall be members of the governing authority of the counties within the judicial circuit for which such member is appointed to serve. Members Other than the county commissioner, members of the circuit public defender selection panel shall be individuals with significant experience working in the criminal justice system or who have demonstrated a strong commitment to the provision of adequate and effective representation of indigent defendants. A prosecuting attorney as defined in paragraph (6) of Code Section 19-13-51, any employee of a prosecuting attorney´s office, or an employee of the Prosecuting Attorneys´ Council of the State of Georgia shall not serve as a member of the circuit public defender selection panel after July 1, 2005. Members of the circuit public defender selection panel shall reside in the judicial circuit in which they serve. The circuit public defender selection panel members shall serve for a term of five years. Any vacancy for an appointed member shall be filled by the appointing authority.
(b) By majority vote of its membership, the circuit public defender selection panel shall appoint the circuit public defender in the circuit as provided in this article. The first such appointments shall be made to take office on January 1, 2005, for terms of up to four years. The initial appointments shall be for a term of up to four years. Any circuit public defender whose term expires on or after January 1, 2008, and any circuit public defender appointed after January 1, 2008, shall serve for a term not longer than two years. A circuit public defender may be appointed for successive terms, but may not be reappointed if he or she was removed pursuant to subsection (c) of this Code section or if his or her appointment was rescinded pursuant to subsection (d) of this Code section.
(c) A circuit public defender may be removed for cause by a majority vote of the council.
(d) A circuit public defender selection panel may convene at any time during its circuit public defender´s term of office and, by majority vote of its membership, rescind its appointment upon good cause shown. The circuit public defender shall be given reasonable notice of the panel´s intention to act and shall be given the opportunity to appear and present evidence and testimony on his or her behalf. All evidence presented to the circuit public defender selection panel and such panel´s findings shall be filed in the superior court clerk´s office for the circuit.
(d)(e) If a vacancy occurs for the position of circuit public defender, the chief judge of the superior court of the circuit shall appoint an interim circuit public defender to serve until the circuit public defender selection panel has appointed a replacement to serve out the unexpired term of office. The circuit public defender selection panel shall appoint a replacement circuit public defender, who shall not be a person who was removed pursuant to subsection (c) of this Code section or whose appointment was rescinded pursuant to subsection (d) of this Code section, within three months of the occurring of the vacancy."

SECTION 3.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.