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Committee hears bill to update century-old statute and clarify public defender assignment powers
Summary
Sponsors and the state public defender told the House Judiciary Committee HB 46 updates an 1895 statute so the Office of State Public Defender, not individual judges, is recognized as the entity that assigns and reassigns counsel; proponents say the change prevents courts from blocking reassignment while preserving judicial supervision.
Representative James Reavis, the bill sponsor, opened the hearing on House Bill 46 by telling the Judiciary Committee the statute at issue dates to 1895 and does not reflect the modern Office of State Public Defender. He said the measure would recognize the officeas the appropriate body to assign and reassign counsel when the office is appointed to represent a defendant and would not remove a judges supervisory authority.
Brett Schandelson, director of the Office of State Public…
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