SLS 12RS-922 ORIGINAL
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
Regular Session, 2012
SENATE BILL NO. 695
BY SENATOR WALSWORTH
COURTS. Provides for the appointment of the district public defender for the 4
th
Judicial
District. (8/1/12)
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 15:162(A) and to enact R.S. 15:162(I), relative to district public2
defenders; to provide for the appointment of the district public defender for the3
Fourth Judicial District; to provide for terms of office; and to provide for related4
matters.5
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:6
Section 1. R.S. 15:162(A) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 15:162(I) is7
hereby enacted to read as follows: 8
ยง162. Vacancies in position of district public defender; formation of district public9
defender selection committee; powers and duties of committee;10
process for filling vacancy for district public defender; interim11
district public defender12
A. Except as provided for in Subsection G Subsections G and I of this13
Section, within twenty days of receiving notice of a vacancy which occurs for the14
position of district public defender by reason of demotion, termination, retirement,15
resignation, or death, the board shall form a district public defender selection16
committee as provided for in Subsection B of this Section.17 SB NO. 695
SLS 12RS-922 ORIGINAL
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
* * *1
I.(1) In the Fourth Judicial District, the district public defender shall be2
appointed by a majority vote of a committee consisting of the following:3
(a) The president of the Ouachita Parish Police Jury.4
(b) The president of the Morehouse Parish Police Jury.5
(c) The president of the Fourth Judicial District Bar Association.6
(2) Each district public defender appointed pursuant to the provisions7
of this Subsection shall meet the qualifications provided for in R.S. 15:150(B)8
and 161(B), and shall provide for the delivery and management of public9
defender services as provided for in R.S. 15:161(E), (F), and (G).10
(3) The district public defender shall serve for a term of six years which11
shall run concurrent with the term of office of the district attorney for the12
Fourth Judicial District. The district public defender may only be removed for13
cause by the appointing committee. In the case of a vacancy. the appointing14
committee shall fill such vacancy according to the provisions of this Subsection.15
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Cathy R. Wells.
DIGEST
Present law requires the LA Public Defender Board to employ or contract with a district
public defender to provide for the delivery and management of public defender services in
each judicial district.
Present law provides for the duties and responsibilities of district public defenders.
Present law provides procedures for appointment of a selection committee and procedures
and time periods for filling vacancies for district public defenders.
Proposed law retains present law, but requires in the Fourth Judicial District, the district
public defender be appointed by a majority vote of a committee consisting of the following:
1. The president of the Ouachita Parish Police Jury.
2. The president of the Morehouse Parish Police Jury.
3. The president of the Fourth Judicial District Bar Association.
Proposed law provides for the district public defender to serve a six year term of office to
be served concurrently with the district attorney for the Fourth Judicial District and may be
removed for cause. SB NO. 695
SLS 12RS-922 ORIGINAL
Page 3 of 3
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
Proposed law retains present law relative to the qualifications of a district public defender
and for the delivery and management of public defender services.
Effective August 1, 2012.
(Amends R.S. 15:162(A); adds R.S. 15:162(I))