[HISTORY: Adopted by the County Legislature
of the County of Ulster as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 2-19-2008 by L.L. No. 1-2008]
The County of Ulster has a responsibility to provide legal counsel
to persons charged with a crime and to those persons entitled to counsel
pursuant to §§ 262 and 1120 of the Family Court Act
and § 407 of the Surrogate's Court Procedure Act in
those circumstances where such persons are financially unable to obtain
counsel. Prior to the adoption of this article, such responsibility
was fulfilled through funding of the office of the Ulster County Public
Defender and, whenever the Public Defender was disqualified from acting
in a particular case, through a panel of attorneys who were appointed
by the court as assigned counsel pursuant to Article 18-B of the County
Law. However, this Legislature is also mindful of its obligation to
the citizens of the County of Ulster to provide public services in
a manner that is as cost effective and efficient as practicable. Accordingly,
and because of the substantial and largely unreimbursed increase in
costs as a consequence of the mandated increase in fees payable to
assigned counsel pursuant to § 722-b of the County Law,
as amended by the New York State Legislature (via Chapter 62 of the
Laws of 2003, effective January 1, 2004), the Ulster County Legislature
hereby finds and determines that it is in the best interest of the
citizens of the County of Ulster to establish the position of Conflict
Defender in and for the County of Ulster.
The position of Conflict Defender be and the same hereby is
created in and for the County of Ulster pursuant to Subdivision 4(a)
of § 400 of the County Law and § 10 of the Municipal
Home Rule Law. The position of Conflict Defender shall be a part-time
position.
The Conflict Defender shall be appointed by the Ulster County
Legislature by resolution. The Conflict Defender shall serve at the
pleasure of the Ulster County Legislature, and the term of office
of the Conflict Defender shall be coextensive with that of the Ulster
County Legislature by which he or she was appointed. Commencing January
1, 2009, the effective date of the County Charter of the County of
Ulster, and thereafter, the Conflict Defender shall be appointed by
the County Executive, subject to confirmation by the County Legislature,
and shall serve at the pleasure of the County Executive. At the time
of such appointment and throughout his or her term of office, the
Conflict Defender shall be appointed on the basis of his or her legal
experience and other qualifications and shall be and remain an attorney
and counselor at law duly admitted to practice law in the courts of
the State of New York and shall have such other qualifications as
may be required by law.
A.
The Ulster County Conflict Defender shall exist and function separately
from, and independently of, the office of the Ulster County Public
Defender and any other County legal office. Subject to the approval
of the applicable trial court, the Conflict Defender shall serve in
the place and stead of the Ulster County Public Defender whenever
the Public Defender is disqualified from representing a party in criminal
or family law matters.
B.
Furthermore, nothing contained herein shall obligate the Conflict
Defender to perform any legal service with respect to which the Conflict
Defender himself or herself has a conflict of interest.
C.
The Conflict Defender shall further have and exercise all powers
and perform all duties now or hereafter otherwise conferred or imposed
upon such position by applicable law.
The Conflict Defender shall have the power to appoint such Deputy
and Assistant Conflict Defenders, investigators and employees of his
or her department as shall be appropriated and authorized by the County
Legislature. At the time of their appointment, and throughout their
term of office, all Deputy and Assistant Conflict Defenders shall
be and remain duly licensed and entitled to practice law in the State
of New York. All Deputy and Assistant Conflict Defenders, investigators
and employees of the department shall be directly responsible to and
serve at the pleasure of the Conflict Defender, except as otherwise
provided by applicable law.
[Amended 8-17-2010 by L.L. No. 3-2010]
In order to furnish appropriate representation, the Conflict
Defender shall be provided suitable funding as authorized by the Ulster
County Legislature for office supplies, stationery, investigation,
expert witnesses, transcription fees, and continued legal education
(CLE), as well as other expenses relating to the Conflict Defender
carrying out his or her responsibilities and duties accordingly. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, this shall not preclude any court from ordering any
services in any action or proceeding, the cost of which shall be an
expense of the County.
This article shall take effect upon the appointment by the Ulster
County Legislature of a Conflict Defender by resolution adopted subsequent
to the date of adoption of this article and compliance with the requirements
of law.
