Public Defender Act

Alaska · Health, Safety, Housing, Human Rights, and Public Defender · §§ 18.85.010 to 18.85.180 · 19 sections

Overview

The Public Defender Act governs the delivery of publicly funded legal representation to people who cannot afford to hire their own counsel. It establishes a state public defender commission with a dedicated fund and an executive director, and organizes defense services into offices covering trial-level work and capital, conflicts, and appellate matters, along with a division serving as an ombudsman for juveniles. It further sets how public defender positions are funded, distributed, filled, and compensated, defines their duties and the conduct and conflicts of interest barred to them, and provides mechanisms for certifying indigency, setting schedules of costs for legal services, and assessing and recovering fees owed.

Editorial summary generated from the text of this act. It is not part of the statute — read the sections below for the operative language.

Sections covered

AS 18.85.010Public defender agency established
AS 18.85.020Administration
AS 18.85.030Appointment and term
AS 18.85.040Removal
AS 18.85.050Vacancy
AS 18.85.060Eligibility
AS 18.85.070Private practice prohibited
AS 18.85.080Delegation of functions
AS 18.85.090Agency staff
AS 18.85.100Right to representation, services, and facilities
AS 18.85.110Notice and provision for representation
AS 18.85.120Determination of indigency; repayment
AS 18.85.130Contracts with private attorneys
AS 18.85.140Waiver
AS 18.85.150Recovery from defendant
AS 18.85.155Payment by municipality
AS 18.85.160Records and reports
AS 18.85.170Definitions
AS 18.85.180Short title

Enacted in other states

Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Wyoming

All Alaska named statutes →

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