HB 523 Summary

• Creates a District Public Defender Fund administered by the Administrative Office of the Courts with up to $4.5 million in funding to establish up to five district public defender pilot offices in the Second, Fourth, Seventh, Eleventh, and Nineteenth Circuit Court Districts.

• Establishes district public defender offices with positions for a district public defender (appointed by senior circuit judge), assistant public defenders, juvenile defenders, investigators, and social service caseworkers in participating districts.

• District public defenders must be licensed attorneys with at least five years of criminal law experience, appointed for four-year terms coinciding with district attorney terms, and can only be removed for cause by the senior circuit judge.

• Sets compensation for district public defenders equal to district attorney salaries, assistant public defenders and juvenile defenders at the legal assistant pay scale, and investigators and caseworkers at the district attorney investigator and victim assistance coordinator salary levels.

• Requires district public defenders to represent indigent defendants, conduct investigations, advise on appellate rights, and submit quarterly reports to the Administrative Office of the Courts; counties must provide office space and necessary equipment.