Source: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/WVCODE/code.cfm?chap=29&art=21&section=8
Timestamp: 2013-05-26 07:04:56
Document Index: 385256656

Matched Legal Cases: ['§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29']

Chapter 29 | Article 29 - 21
29 - 21 - 1 29 - 21 - 2 29 - 21 - 3 29 - 21 - 3 A 29 - 21 - 3 B 29 - 21 - 4 29 - 21 - 5 29 - 21 - 6 29 - 21 - 7 29 - 21 - 8 29 - 21 - 9 29 - 21 - 10 29 - 21 - 11 29 - 21 - 12 29 - 21 - 13 29 - 21 - 13 A 29 - 21 - 14 29 - 21 - 14 A 29 - 21 - 14 B 29 - 21 - 15 29 - 21 - 16 29 - 21 - 17 29 - 21 - 18 29 - 21 - 19 29 - 21 - 20 29 - 21 - 21 29 - 21 - 22 22 - STATE LOTTERY ACT
WVC 29 - 21 - ARTICLE 21. PUBLIC DEFENDER SERVICES.
WVC 29 - 21 - 1 §29-21-1. Legislative findings; purpose.
The Legislature finds and declares that in certain
proceedings the state is required to provide high quality legal
assistance to indigent persons who would be otherwise unable to
afford adequate legal counsel; that providing legal
representation to those who face an economic barrier to adequate
legal counsel will serve the ends of justice in accordance with
rights and privileges guaranteed to all citizens by the
constitution of the United States of America and the constitution
of the state of West Virginia; that the availability of quality
legal assistance reaffirms the faith of our citizens in our
government of laws; that the present system which utilizes
appointed counsel is not operating satisfactorily in some areas
of this state and the Legislature is presently unable to
determine what system or systems will provide the most efficient
means for providing legal representation; that there is a need to
explore alternative methods of delivering legal assistance,
including the use of salaried public defenders complemented by
private panel attorneys; that innovative programs and pilot
projects as well as a continuation of the present appointed
counsel system are necessary in separate areas of the state to
provide information and experience upon which to base future
WVC 29 - 21 - 2 §29-21-2. Definitions.
As used in this article, the following words and phrases are
hereby defined:
(1) "Eligible client": Any person who meets the requirements
established by this article to receive publicly funded legal
representation in an eligible proceeding as defined herein;
(2) "Eligible proceeding": Criminal charges which may result
in incarceration; juvenile proceedings; proceedings to revoke
parole or probation if the revocation may result in incarceration;
contempt of court; child abuse and neglect proceedings which may
result in a termination of parental rights; mental hygiene
commitment proceedings; extradition proceedings; proceedings which
are ancillary to an eligible proceeding, including, but not limited
to, proceedings to enhance sentences brought pursuant to sections
eighteen and nineteen, article eleven, chapter sixty-one of this
code, forfeiture proceedings brought pursuant to article seven,
chapter sixty-a of this code, and proceedings brought to obtain
extraordinary remedies; and appeals from or post-conviction
challenges to the final judgment in an eligible proceeding. Legal
representation provided pursuant to the provisions of this article
is limited to the court system of the state of West Virginia, but
does not include representation in municipal courts unless the
accused is at risk of incarceration;
(3) "Legal representation": The provision of any legal
services or legal assistance as counsel or guardian ad litem
consistent with the purposes and provisions of this article;
(4) "Private practice of law": The provision of legal
representation by a public defender or assistant public defender to
a client who is not entitled to receive legal representation under
the provisions of this article, but does not include, among other
activities, teaching;
(5) "Public defender": The staff attorney employed on a
full-time basis by a public defender corporation who, in addition
to providing direct representation to eligible clients, has
administrative responsibility for the operation of the public
defender corporation. The public defender may be a part-time
employee if the board of directors of the public defender
corporation finds efficient operation of the corporation does not
require a full-time attorney and the executive director approves
such part-time employment;
(6) "Assistant public defender": A staff attorney providing
direct representation to eligible clients whose salary and status
as a full-time or part-time employee are fixed by the board of
directors of the public defender corporation;
(7) "Public defender corporation": A corporation created
under section eight of this article for the sole purpose ofproviding legal representation to eligible clients; and
(8) "Public defender office": An office operated by a public
defender corporation to provide legal representation under the
WVC 29 - 21 - 3 §29-21-3. Establishment of public defender services.
There is hereby created an executive agency known as public
defender services. The agency shall administer, coordinate and
evaluate programs by which the state provides legal representation
to indigent persons, monitor the progress of various delivery
systems and recommend improvements. The agency shall maintain its
office at the state capitol.
WVC 29 - 21 - 3 A
WVC 29 - 21 - 3 B
(4) One nonlawyer with a demonstrated commitment to providing
legal services to the indigent;
(6) One attorney with significant experience in the defense of
end of the term for which he or she was appointed or until his or
her successor qualifies for office. When a vacancy occurs as a
after the completion of a second successive term.
determining eligibility for legal representation under section
sixteen of this article;
(6) To study the feasibility and need of creating additional
public defender corporations, the activation of public defender
corporations and the formation of multicircuit or regional public
defender corporations in accordance with the provisions of section
(7) To study the potential for the dissolution of public
defender corporations;
regarding the training, experience and background necessary for a public defender or panel attorney to competently represent indigent
defender or other employee for misfeasance, malfeasance or
nonfeasance pursuant to subdivision (3), subsection (c), section
(g) On or before the fifteenth day of January, two thousand
nine the commission shall report to the Legislature its findings
and recommendations on the feasibility and need for the creation of additional public defender corporations; the activation of public
defender corporations; the formation of multicircuit or regional
public defender corporations; or the dissolution of public defender
WVC 29 - 21 - 4 §29-21-4. Purpose and duties of public defender services.
The agency shall have as its principal purpose the
development and improvement of programs by which the state
provides legal representation to indigent persons.
WVC 29 - 21 - 5 §29-21-5. Executive director.
(a) The governor shall appoint, by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate, the executive director of public defender
services, who shall serve at the will and pleasure of the
governor. The executive director shall be a qualified
administrator as determined by the governor, and shall be a
member of the bar of the supreme court of appeals. In addition
to the executive director there shall be such other employees as
the executive director determines to be necessary. The executive
director shall have the authority to promulgate rules, and shall
have such other authority and perform such duties as may be
required or necessary to effectuate this article. The executive
director shall provide supervision and direction to the other
agency employees in the performance of their duties.
(b) The executive director's annual salary shall be as
WVC 29 - 21 - 6 §29-21-6. Powers, duties and limitations.
providing legal representation under this article and may make any
other grants and contracts that are necessary to carry out the
purposes and provisions of this article.
provided in section seven of this article. This center shall
assistance related to the delivery of legal representation; and to
engage in research, except that broad general, legal or policy
research unrelated to direct representation of eligible clients
(d) The agency shall establish and the executive director or his or her designee shall operate an accounting and auditing
division to require and monitor the compliance with this article by
public defender corporations and other persons or entities receiving funding or compensation from the agency. The accounting
and auditing division shall review all plans and proposals for
grants and contracts and shall make a recommendation of approval or
disapproval to the executive director. The accounting and auditing
division shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, reports concerning
the evaluation, inspection or monitoring of public defender
corporations and other grantees, contractors, persons or entities
receiving financial assistance under this article and shall further
carry out the agency's responsibilities for records and reports as
set forth in section eighteen of this article. The accounting and
auditing division shall require each public defender corporation to
submit financial statements monthly and to report monthly on the billable and nonbillable time of its professional employees, including time used in administration of the respective offices, so
as to compare the time to similar time expended in nonpublic law
offices for similar activities. The accounting and auditing
division shall provide to the executive director assistance in the
fiscal administration of all of the agency's divisions. This
assistance shall include, but not be limited to, budget preparation
(e) The agency shall establish and the executive director or his or her designee shall operate an appellate advocacy division
for the purpose of prosecuting litigation on behalf of eligible
clients in the Supreme Court of Appeals. The executive director or
his or her designee shall be the director of the appellate advocacy division. The appellate advocacy division shall represent eligible
clients upon appointment by the circuit courts or by the Supreme
Court of Appeals. The division may, however, refuse the
appointments due to a conflict of interest or if the executive
director has determined the existing caseload cannot be increased
without jeopardizing the appellate division's ability to provide
effective representation. In order to effectively and efficiently
use the resources of the appellate division, the executive
director may restrict the provision of appellate representation to
certain types of cases. The executive director may select and
employ staff attorneys to perform the duties prescribed by this
subsection. The appellate division shall maintain records of representation of eligible clients for record purposes only.
WVC 29 - 21 - 7 §29-21-7. Criminal law research center established; functions.
(a) Within the agency, there shall be a division known as
the criminal law research center which may:
(1) Undertake research, studies and analyses and act as a
central repository, clearinghouse and disseminator of research
(2) Prepare and distribute a criminal law manual and other
materials and establish and implement standard and specialized
training programs for attorneys practicing criminal law;
(3) Provide and coordinate continuing legal education
programs and services for attorneys practicing criminal law; and
(4) Prepare, supplement and disseminate indices and digests
of decisions of the West Virginia supreme court of appeals and
other courts, statutes and other legal authorities relating to
(b) The services of the criminal law research center shall
be offered at reasonable rates or by subscription to prosecuting
attorneys and their professional staffs, panel attorneys, and
private attorneys engaged in the practice of criminal law. The
services may be provided to public defender corporations, public
defenders and assistant public defenders at reduced rates.
WVC 29 - 21 - 8 §29-21-8. Public defender corporations; establishment thereof.
Defense Commission, may authorize the creation, merger or
dissolution of a public defender corporation in a judicial circuit
where the creation, merger or dissolution of such a public defender
corporation would improve the quality of legal representation,
assure the prudent and resourceful expenditure of state funds and
further the purposes of this article: Provided, however, That
prior to the creation, merger or dissolution of a public defender
corporation in accordance with this subsection, the commission
shall provide a report to the Legislature pursuant to subsection
(g), section three-b of this article for approval of the creation,
merger, or dissolution of any public defender corporation.
(2) The purpose of these public defender corporations is to
(b) If the executive director, with the approval of the
Indigent Defense Commission, determines there is a need to
activate, merge or dissolve a corporation in a judicial circuit of
the state, pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the Indigent Defense Commission shall first consult with and give substantial
consideration to the recommendation of the judge of a single-judge
circuit or the chief judge of a multi-judge circuit.
WVC 29 - 21 - 9 §29-21-9. Panel attorneys.
(a) In each circuit of the state, the circuit court shall establish and maintain regional and local panels of private attorneys-at-law who are available to serve as counsel for eligible clients. An attorney-at-law may become a panel attorney and be enrolled on the regional or local panel, or both, to serve as counsel for eligible clients by informing the court. An agreement to accept cases generally or certain types of cases particularly may not prevent a panel attorney from declining an
appointment in a specific case.
order of appointment as set forth herein, the order of appointment
shall contain the court's reasons for doing so.
WVC 29 - 21 - 10 §29-21-10.
WVC 29 - 21 - 11 §29-21-11.
WVC 29 - 21 - 12 §29-21-12.
WVC 29 - 21 - 13 §29-21-13. Approval of public defender corporation funding
recommendations and shall, in consultation with the board of
directors of each public defender corporation, prepare a plan for
providing legal services, execute a funding contract for the fiscal
year and commit funds for that purpose.
approved in accordance with the provisions of this article. At the
discretion of the executive director, when caseloads increase or
than ninety calendar days after the last date of service shall be
rejected, unless for good cause, the appointing court authorizes in
writing an extension: Provided, That claims where the last date of
service occurred prior to the first day of July, two thousand
eight, shall be rejected unless submitted prior to the first day of
January, two thousand nine.
the time and expense claims are reasonable, necessary and valid,
and shall forward the voucher to the agency with an order approving
representation under this article, and in each appeal after
conviction in circuit court, the panel attorney shall be
compensation on an hourly basis or, if salaried, at the hourly rate of compensation which would produce the paralegal's current salary,
hearing or trial before a judge, magistrate, special master or
other judicial officer.
of any kind involving felonies for which a penalty of life
imprisonment may be imposed, the amount as the court may approve;
providing legal representation, including, but not limited to, expenses for travel, transcripts, salaried or contracted
a maximum of one thousand five hundred dollars unless the court,
for good cause shown, approves reimbursement of a larger sum.
to the cost per original page and per copy page as set forth in
section four, article seven, chapter fifty-one of this code.
magistrate or juvenile referee, or of a magistrate court trial,
where such hearing or trial has also been recorded electronically
in accordance with the provisions of section eight, article five,
chapter fifty of this code or court rule.
subparagraph (i) of this paragraph is limited to twenty-five
(iii) Except for the appearance fees provided in this
paragraph, there shall be no reimbursement for hourly court reporters' fees or fees for other time expended by the court
court trials is limited to one dollar per page.
service was rendered and the amount of time expended in each instance. All time claimed on the vouchers shall be itemized to
(a) of this section and in such circumstance shall return the
voucher to the court or to the service provider for further review
(h) Vouchers submitted under this section after the first day
of July, two thousand eight, shall be reimbursed within ninety days
of receipt. Reimbursements after ninety days shall bear interest
from the ninety-first day at the legal rate in effect for the
calendar year in which payment is due.
(i) Vouchers submitted for fees and expenses involving child
abuse and neglect cases shall be processed for payment before
processing vouchers submitted for all other cases.
WVC 29 - 21 - 14 §29-21-14. Limitation on use of funds; exceptions.
(a) Funds made available by the agency to public defender
corporations or other entities under this article, either by
loan, grant or contract, and funds used for payments to panel
attorneys shall be used only to provide legal representation for
eligible clients involved in proceedings defined by this article
as eligible proceedings.
(b) Funds received from any source other than the agency
shall not be used by a public defender corporation for purposes
prohibited by this article.
WVC 29 - 21 - 14 A
WVC 29 - 21 - 14 B
WVC 29 - 21 - 15 §29-21-15. Public defender corporations -- Board of directors.
(a) The governing body of each public defender corporation
shall be a board of directors consisting of persons who are
residents of the area to be served by the public defender
(1) In multi-county circuits, and in the case of multi-circuit
or regional corporations, the county commission of each county
within the area served shall appoint a director, who shall not be
an attorney-at-law. The president of each county bar association
within the area served shall appoint a director, who shall be an
attorney-at-law: Provided, That in a county where there is not an
organized and active bar association, the circuit court shall
convene a meeting of the members of the bar of the court resident
within the county and such members of the bar shall elect one of
their number as a director. The governor shall appoint one
director, who shall serve as chairman, who may be an attorney-at-law, unless such appointment would result in there
being an even number of directors, in which event the governor
shall appoint two directors, one of whom may be an attorney-at-law. The governor's appointees shall serve four-year terms which terms
shall coincide with the term of the governor. Appointments may be
made for unexpired terms as may be necessary. Other board members'
terms shall be as determined by the board.
(2) In single-county circuits, the manner of selecting
directors shall be the same as that described in subdivision (1) of
this subsection, except that the county commission shall appoint
two directors rather than one, and the bar shall appoint two
directors rather than one.
(b) The board of directors shall have at least four meetings
a year. Timely and effective prior public notice of all meetings
shall be given pursuant to rules promulgated in accordance with the
provisions of section three, article nine-a, chapter six of this
code, and all meetings shall be public except for those concerned
with matters properly discussed in executive session.
(c) The board of directors shall establish and enforce broad
policies governing the operation of the public defender corporation
but shall not interfere with any attorney's professional
responsibilities to clients. The duties of the board of directors
(1) Appointment of the public defender and any assistant
public defenders as may be necessary to enable the public defender
corporation to provide legal representation to eligible clients;
(2) Approval of the public defender corporation's budget and
the fixing of professional and clerical salaries: Provided, That
the compensation paid to any part-time public defender, part-timeassistant public defender or other part-time employee shall not
include benefits such as retirement, health insurance or paid leave
time for illness or vacation unless public defender services has
certified in writing to the board of directors that there exists
sufficient funding to provide such benefits and the board of
directors authorizes such benefits to be included in the
(3) Removal of any public defender, assistant public defender
or other employee for misfeasance, malfeasance or nonfeasance.
(d) To the extent that the provisions of chapter thirty-one of
this code regarding nonprofit corporations are not inconsistent
with this article, the provisions of said chapter shall be
applicable to the board of directors of the public defender
(e) While serving on the board of directors, no member may
receive compensation from the public defender corporation, but
a member may receive payment for normal travel and other
out-of-pocket expenses required for fulfillment of the obligations
of membership and may accept appointments to represent eligible
clients so long as he or she does not discuss a particular case
with any public defender, assistant public defender or other
employee of the office governed by the board. Directors may not
serve as cocounsel with the public defender or assistant publicdefender in any matter.
WVC 29 - 21 - 16 §29-21-16. Determination of maximum income levels; eligibility
guidelines; use of form affidavit; inquiry by
court; denial of services; repayment; limitation on
remedies against affiant.
(a) The agency shall establish, and periodically review and
update financial guidelines for determining eligibility for legal
representation made available under the provisions of this
article. The agency shall adopt a financial affidavit form for
use by persons seeking legal representation made available under
(b) All persons seeking legal representation made available
under the provisions of this article shall complete the agency's
financial affidavit form, which shall be considered as an
application for the provision of publicly funded legal
(c) Any juvenile shall have the right to be effectively
represented by counsel at all stages of proceedings brought under
the provisions of article five, chapter forty-nine of this code. If the child advises the court of his or her inability to pay for
counsel, the court shall require the child's parent or custodian
to execute a financial affidavit. If the financial affidavit
demonstrates that neither of the child's parents, or, if
applicable, the child's custodian, has sufficient assets to pay
for counsel, the court shall appoint counsel for the child. If
the financial affidavit demonstrates that either of the child's
parents, or, if applicable, the child's custodian, does have
sufficient assets to pay for counsel, the court shall order the parent, or, if applicable, the custodian, to provide, by paying
for, legal representation for the child in the proceedings.
The court may disregard the assets of the child's parents or
custodian and appoint counsel for the child, as provided above,
if the court concludes, as a matter of law, that the child and
the parent or custodian have a conflict of interest that would
adversely affect the child's right to effective representation of
counsel, or concludes, as a matter of law, that requiring the
child's parent or custodian to provide legal representation for
the child would otherwise jeopardize the best interests of the
(d) In circuits in which no public defender office is in
operation, circuit judges shall make all determinations of
eligibility. In circuits in which a public defender office is in
operation, all determinations of indigency shall be made by a
public defender office employee designated by the executive
director. Such determinations shall be made after a careful
review of the financial affidavit submitted by the person seeking
representation. The review of the affidavit shall be conducted
in accord with the financial eligibility guidelines established
by the agency pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. In
addition to the financial eligibility guidelines, the person
determining eligibility shall consider other relevant factors,
including, but not limited to, those set forth in subdivisions
(1) through (9) of subsection (e) of this section. If there is
substantial reason to doubt the accuracy of information in the
financial affidavit, the person determining eligibility may make such inquiries as are necessary to determine whether the affiant
has truthfully and completely disclosed the required financial
After reviewing all pertinent matters the person determining
eligibility may find the affiant to be eligible to have the total
cost of legal representation provided by the state, or may find
that the total cost of providing representation shall be
apportioned between the state and the eligible person. A person
whose annual income exceeds the maximum annual income level
allowed for eligibility may receive all or part of the necessary
legal representation, or a person whose income falls below the
maximum annual income level for eligibility may be denied all or
part of the necessary legal representation if the person
determining eligibility finds the person's particular
circumstances require that eligibility be allowed or disallowed,as the case may be, on the basis of one or more of the nine
factors set forth in subsection (e) of this section. If legal
representation is made available to a person whose income exceeds
the maximum annual income level for eligibility, or if legal
representation is denied to a person whose income falls below the
maximum annual income level for eligibility, the person
determining eligibility shall make a written statement of the
reasons for the action and shall specifically relate those
reasons to one or more of the factors set forth in subsection (e)
(e) The following factors shall be considered in determining
eligibility for legal representation made available under the provisions of this article:
(1) Current income prospects, taking into account seasonal
obtain funds to employ private counsel and other assets which may
be liquidated to provide funds to employ private counsel;
(3) Fixed debts and obligations, including federal, state
(4) Child care, transportation and other expenses necessary
representation has made reasonable and diligent efforts to obtain
private legal representation, and the results of those efforts;
representation has posted a cash bond for bail or has obtained
release on bond for bail through the services of a professional
bondsman for compensation and the amount and source of the money
provided for such bond;
(f) Legal representation requested by the affiant may not be
denied in whole or part unless the affiant can obtain legal
representation without undue financial hardship. Persons
determined to be ineligible by public defender personnel may have the initial determination reviewed by a local circuit judge who
may amend, modify or rewrite the initial determination. At any
stage of the proceedings a circuit court may determine a prior
finding of eligibility was incorrect or has become incorrect as
the result of the affiant's changed financial circumstances, and
may revoke any prior order providing legal representation. In
such event any attorney previously appointed shall be entitled to
compensation under the provisions of law applicable to such
appointment for services already rendered.
(g) In the circumstances and manner set forth below, circuit
judges may order repayment to the state, through the office of
the clerk of the circuit court having jurisdiction over the
proceedings, of the costs of representation provided under this
(1) In every case in which services are provided to an
indigent person and an adverse judgment has been rendered against
such person, the court may require that person, and in juvenile
cases, may require the juvenile's parents or custodian, to pay as
costs the compensation of appointed counsel, the expenses of the
defense and such other fees and costs as authorized by statute.
(2) The court shall not order a person to pay costs unless
the person is able to pay without undue hardship. In determining
the amount and method of repayment of costs, the court shall take
account of the financial resources of the person, the person's
ability to pay and the nature of the burden that payment of costs
will impose. The fact that the court initially determines, at
the time of a case's conclusion, that it is not proper to order the repayment of costs does not preclude the court from
subsequently ordering repayment should the person's financial
(3) When a person is ordered to repay costs, the court mayorder payment to be made forthwith or within a specified period
of time or in specified installments. If a person is sentenced
to a term of imprisonment, an order for repayment of costs is not
enforceable during the period of imprisonment unless the court
expressly finds, at the time of sentencing, that the person has
sufficient assets to pay the amounts ordered to be paid or finds
there is a reasonable likelihood the person will acquire the
necessary assets in the foreseeable future.
(4) A person who has been ordered to repay costs, and who is
not in contumacious default in the payment thereof, may at any
time petition the sentencing court for modification of the
repayment order. If it appears to the satisfaction of the court
that continued payment of the amount ordered will impose undue
hardship on the person or the person's dependents, the court may
modify the method or amount of payment.
(5) When a person ordered to pay costs is also placed on
probation or imposition or execution of sentence is suspended,
the court may make the repayment of costs a condition of
(h) Circuit clerks shall keep a record of repaid counsel
fees and defense expenses collected pursuant to this section and
shall, quarterly, pay the moneys to the state auditor who shall
deposit the funds in the general revenue fund of the state.
(i) The making of an affidavit subject to inquiry under this
section does not in any event give rise to criminal remedies
against the affiant nor occasion any civil action against the
affiant except for the recovery of costs as in any other case
where costs may be recovered and the recovery of the value of
services, if any, provided pursuant to this article. A person
who has made an affidavit knowing the contents thereof to be
false may be prosecuted for false swearing as provided by law.
WVC 29 - 21 - 17 §29-21-17. Private practice of law by public defenders.
(a) No full-time public defender or full-time assistant
public defender may engage in any private practice of law except
(b) A board of directors may permit a newly employed
full-time public defender or full-time assistant public defender
to engage in the private practice of law for compensation for the
sole purpose of expeditiously closing and withdrawing from
existing private cases from a prior private practice. In no
event shall any person employed for more than ninety days as a
be engaged in any other private practice of law for compensation:
Provided, That until the first day of January, one thousand nine
hundred ninety-three, the prohibition against the private
practice of law does not apply to full-time public defenders
employed in Class II, III or IV counties as defined by article
seven, chapter seven of this code.
(c) A board of directors may permit a full-time public
defender or full-time assistant public defender to engage in
private practice for compensation if the defender is acting
pursuant to an appointment made under a court rule or practice of
equal applicability to all attorneys in the jurisdiction and if
the defender remits to the public defender corporation allcompensation received.
(d) A board of directors may permit a full-time public
uncompensated private practice of law if the public defender or
assistant public defender is acting:
(1) Pursuant to an appointment made under a court rule or
practice of equal applicability to all attorneys in the
(e) Violation of the requirements of this section is
sufficient grounds for immediate summary dismissal regardless of
the conditions of employment established by a corporation's board
WVC 29 - 21 - 18 §29-21-18. Records and reports.
(a) The agency is authorized to require such reports as it
deems necessary from any public defender corporation or other
entity or person receiving funding under this article regarding
activities carried out pursuant to this article.
(b) The agency is authorized to prescribe the keeping of
records with respect to the activities of public defender
receiving financial assistance under this article and shall have
access to such records at all reasonable times for the purpose of
ensuring compliance with the terms and conditions upon which
financial assistance was provided.
(c) Copies of all reports pertinent to the evaluation,
inspection, or monitoring of any public defender corporation,
other grantee, contractor, person or entity receiving financial
assistance under this article shall be maintained by the agency
for a period of at least five years subsequent to such
evaluation, inspection, or monitoring. Such reports shall be
available for public inspection during regular business hours,
and copies shall be furnished, upon request, to interested
parties upon payment of such reasonable fees as the agency may
WVC 29 - 21 - 19 §29-21-19. Audits.
(a) The accounts of each public defender corporation shall
be audited annually as soon as possible after the end of each
state fiscal year. Such audits shall be conducted in accordance
with generally accepted auditing standards by the state tax
(b) The audits shall be conducted at the place or places
where the accounts of the public defender corporation are
normally kept. All books, accounts, financial records, reports,
files, and other papers or property belonging to or in use by the
public defender corporation and necessary to facilitate the
audits shall be made available to the person or persons
conducting the audits; and full facilities for verifying
transactions with the balances and securities held by
depositories, fiscal agents, and custodians shall be afforded to
(c) The report of the annual audit shall be filed with the
agency and shall be available for public inspection during
business hours at the principal office of the public defender
corporation. The report of each such audit shall be maintained
for a period of at least five years at the office of the agency.
WVC 29 - 21 - 20 §29-21-20. Appointed counsel immune from liability.
Any attorney who provides legal representation under the
provisions of this article under appointment by a circuit court
or by the supreme court of appeals, and whose only compensation
therefor is paid under the provisions of this article, shall be
immune from liability arising from that representation in the
same manner and to the same extent that prosecuting attorneys are
immune from liability.
WVC 29 - 21 - 21 §29-21-21. Forgiveness of loans; reversion of public defender
corporation assets.
All equipment, operational or supplemental loans heretofore
made under the former provisions of article twenty-one are
forgiven and declared null and void and shall not be an
obligation of a public defender corporation formerly established
under the previous provisions of article twenty-one, nor an
obligation of any successor organization or of the members of
any board of directors of any public defender corporation.
WVC 29 - 21 - 22 §29-21-22.
§29 - 18 - 3 - (Amended Code)
§29 - 18 - 6 - (Amended Code)
§29 - 18 - 24 - (New Code)
SENATE BILL - 103
SB103 SUB1 ENR (Uploaded - 05/07/2013)
§29 - 21 - 9 - (Amended Code)
§29 - 21 - 20 - (Amended Code)
SENATE BILL - 383
SB383 ENR (Uploaded - 05/07/2013)
§29 - 22 A- 3 - (Amended Code)
§29 - 22 B- 332 - (Amended Code)
§29 - 25 - 2 - (Amended Code)
§29 - 25 - 24 - (Amended Code)
SENATE BILL - 478
SB478 SUB1 ENR (Uploaded - 05/07/2013)
§29 - 3 - 5 B - (Amended Code)
SENATE BILL - 652
SB652 ENR (Uploaded - 05/07/2013)
§29 - 29 - 3 - (Amended Code)
HOUSE BILL - 2577
HB2577 ENR (Uploaded - 05/07/2013)
§29 - 6 - 4 - (Amended Code)
HOUSE BILL - 3028
hb3028 ENR (Uploaded - 05/07/2013)