Public Defender Board Looking For Nominations

Deadline Sept 8th

                                    (File)

Nominations are being sought through Wednesday, Sept. 8 for the Jefferson County Public Defender Board.

“When citizens are accused of a crime and cannot afford an attorney, both the Indiana and United States Constitutions require that they are entitled to an appointed attorney,” said Indiana Public Defender Commission Chair Mark W. Rutherford. “In Jefferson County, that system is managed by the Public Defender Board, and citizens are encouraged to take an active involvement in that board.”

Indiana statute states that the Jefferson County Public Defender Board is composed of three members: one appointed by the County Commissioners, one appointed by the County Judiciary, and one appointed by the Commission. The Commission’s appointee must be a resident of Jefferson County.

Based on statute, appointees must be “persons who have demonstrated an interest in high-quality legal representation for indigent persons.” The board meets at least quarterly and has oversight responsibilities for the delivery of public defense services in Jefferson County. Individuals are appointed for a three-year term.

Nominations are due Wednesday, Sept. 8 and appointments will be made by the Commission at the Wednesday, Sept. 22 Commission Meeting, which is open to the public. Jefferson County has been participating since 2017 in the Commission’s reimbursement program in exchange for following standards for the delivery of public defense services. The county has received approximately a $850,000 since that time.

To submit your interest, email Information@pdcom.in.gov and a member of the Commission staff will contact you. See the Commission’s website (https://www.in.gov/publicdefender/) for additional information. Follow the Commission on Twitter at @IndianaPDCom.