MS HB947

Amend Mississippi Code Section 25-32-5 to require that compensation for all county public defenders shall not be less than the compensation of the district attorney, regardless of whether the public defender serves one county, multiple counties, or an entire circuit court district.

Public defenders must be provided with office space, secretarial assistance, and operating expenses at least equal to or greater than those provided to county or district prosecutors.

Full-time public defenders and assistant public defenders are prohibited from engaging in private law practice, while part-time public defenders may practice law privately as long as it does not involve criminal prosecution matters.

Establish the Office of State Public Defender with divisions for Capital Defense Counsel, Indigent Appeals, and Public Defender Training, with the State Defender appointed by the Governor for four-year terms.

State Defender and Capital Defense Director salaries capped at the maximum allowed by statute for a district attorney, while other office attorneys capped at the maximum for assistant district attorneys.

Act takes effect July 1, 2022.