[Adopted 1-28-1992 by Ord. No. 4175 (Ch. 93, Art. IV, of the 2004 Code)]
There is hereby created the office of Municipal Public Defender who shall be appointed annually by the Township Committee.
The person to be appointed to said office shall have been duly admitted to the practice of law in the State of New Jersey and must be a member in good standing at the bar of the State of New Jersey at the time of his or her appointment and during the term of his or her office.
The term of office of said Municipal Public Defender shall be one year.
A. 
It shall be the duty of the Municipal Public Defender to represent such indigent defendants before the Municipal Court of the Township of Union as shall be assigned to him by the Municipal Judge in the exercise of the Municipal Judge's inherent discretion to assign free counsel whenever justice so requires.
B. 
The Municipal Public Defender shall have and exercise all powers and duties assigned him or her by the statutes of the State of New Jersey and the Rules Governing the Courts of the State of New Jersey and such other authority as may be granted by the Township Committee.
C. 
The Municipal Public Defender reports to and is directed by the Township Administrator.
D. 
The Municipal Public Defender is responsible for submitting an annual report to the Township Committee within 21 days after the end of the year.
A. 
The salary of the Municipal Public Defender shall be provided by ordinance of the Township of Union. The sum shall be paid in equal installments as other salaries in the Township are paid.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 164, Salaries and Compensation.
B. 
The Municipal Public Defender shall be eligible to participate in the group medical coverage provided by the Township, provided he or she reimburses the Township for the full amount of the premiums paid on their behalf on a monthly basis.
[Amended 9-27-2005 by Ord. No. 4902]
[Added 2-8-1994 by Ord. No. 4290; amended 2-24-1998 by Ord. No. 4535]
The Township of Union hereby requires a person applying for representation by a Municipal Public Defender to pay an application fee of not more than $200. The Municipal Court may waive any required application fee, in whole or in part, if the Court determines, in its discretion, that the application fee represents an unreasonable burden on the person seeking representation.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 2B:24-1 et seq.