[Adopted 7-7-2008 by Ord. No. 15-2008]
The Township Public Defender shall be appointed
by the Township Committee for a term of one year, from January 1 in
the year of his appointment until his successor has been appointed
and has qualified.
The person to be appointed to this position
of Township Public Defender shall have been duly admitted to the practice
of law in the State of New Jersey at the time of his appointment and
during the term of his office.
It shall be the duty of the Township Public
Defender to represent, except in the case of temporary unavailability
or conflict of interest, any defendant charged with an offense in
the Municipal Court who is an indigent municipal defendant entitled
to representation, pursuant to P.L. 1997, c. 256 (N.J.S.A. 2B:24-1
et seq.).
For the performance of the services described
herein, the Township Public Defender shall be paid such fees as may
be deemed reasonable and proper by the Township Committee for services
actually rendered, as set forth in an agreement to provide public
defender services which shall be executed annually and as set forth
on vouchers properly executed and furnished to the Township Administrator.
Any person applying to the Municipal Court for
representation by the Township Public Defender or other court-appointed
counsel shall pay an application fee not less than $50 and no more
than $200, subject to the provisions of P.L. 1997, c. 256 (N.J.S.A.
2B:24-1 et seq.), pertaining to court-approved waivers of application
fees; periodic payments thereof; and determination that the application
fee does not exceed the amount necessary to pay the costs of the Township
Public Defender or other court-appointed counsel. All application
fees collected shall be deposited by the Chief Financial Officer in
a dedicated fund pursuant to the provisions of the aforesaid statute.
