Louisiana § RS 15:143 - Definitions

§ RS 15:143. Definitions

            As used in this Part, the following words have the following meanings:

            (1) "District indigent defender fund" means the judicial district indigent defender fund as provided for in R.S. 15:168.

            (2) "District office" means the office of a district public defender as provided for in R.S. 15:161.

            (3) "District public defender" or "chief indigent defender" means an attorney employed by or under contract with the office to supervise service providers and enforce standards and guidelines within a judicial district or multiple judicial districts.

            (4) "Indigent defendant" means a person who has been determined under the provisions of R.S. 15:175 to be indigent and financially unable to retain private counsel.

            (5) "Indigent defender services program" or "the program" means the activities directed toward the accomplishment of providing indigent defender services under the Louisiana Public Defender Act.

            (6) "Office" means the office of the state public defender authorized to:

            (a) Regulate and fund public defender services and provide financial support to other service programs that provide services to persons adjudicated in the criminal justice system.

            (b) Make recommendations to the legislature, the governor, and the chief justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court regarding potential changes to laws in order to improve public defender services and the criminal justice system in Louisiana.

            (7) "Public defender" or "indigent defender" means an attorney employed by or under contract with the board, the office, or a district public defender to provide legal counsel to an indigent person in a criminal proceeding.

            (8) "Public defender services" or "indigent defender services" means the providing of legal services to indigent persons in criminal proceedings in which the right to counsel attaches under the United States and Louisiana constitutions.

            (9) "Revenue" or "self-generated revenue" means all revenue received by a judicial district including revenue received as a result of grants or donations or other forms of assistance.

            (10) "State public defender" means the person appointed by the governor, subject to approval of a majority of the board and Senate confirmation, to administer the statewide public defender system for the delivery of public defender services.

            Acts 2007, No. 307, §1; Acts 2008, No. 220, §6, eff. June 14, 2008; Acts 2024, 2^nd Ex. Sess., No. 22, §1, eff. March 20, 2024.