A. 
There shall be a Public Defender's Office, headed by a Public Defender. The method of choosing the Public Defender shall be as provided in § C15.01 of Article XV of the Charter.[1] He shall be duly admitted to the practice of law in the State of New York for at least five years prior to his appointment and at all times during his or her term of office.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Charter is included at the beginning of this volume.
B. 
Throughout his or her term of office, the Public Defender shall hold no elective office and shall hold no other public office.
The Public Defender shall represent, without charge, at the request of a defendant or by order of the court with the consent of the defendant, each indigent defendant who is charged with a crime in the County, and he or she shall have and exercise all the powers and duties heretofore or hereafter lawfully granted or imposed by the Charter, this code, local law, ordinance or resolution of the County Legislature or by any applicable provision of any act of the State Legislature not inconsistent with the Charter or this code. The Public Defender shall also perform such other related functions as the County Legislature or the County Executive may designate in order to implement and accomplish the policies and responsibilities the County Legislature has prescribed.
[1]
Editor's Note: See also § C15.02 of the Charter.
On or before March 1 of each year, the Public Defender shall make an annual report for the immediately preceding calendar year, covering generally the work of his or her Office. The Public Defender shall make such other reports at such times as may be required by the County Legislature, County Executive or any other applicable law. Copies of all reports shall be filed with the Clerk of the County Legislature and the County Executive.
A. 
The Public Defender, within the appropriations provided therefor, shall appoint such officers, assistants and/or employees in his or her Department, including such actual deputy positions as may be authorized and budgeted, as shall be authorized by the County Legislature. All Assistant Public Defenders shall serve at the pleasure of the Public Defender, subject to all applicable provisions of New York State law.
B. 
The Public Defender shall designate and deputize a deputy or deputies to whom shall be delegated all the powers and duties of the Public Defender and the authority to act generally for and in place of said Public Defender.
C. 
The designation or designations shall be in writing and shall designate the relative rank of the deputies, including the order of temporary succession to the duties of the Public Defender during absence, disability or otherwise, and also may delegate among them such powers and duties as he or she may determine. The designation(s) and delegations shall be in writing and filed in the Department of Records, and copies thereof shall be filed with the Clerk to the County Legislature and with the County Executive.