A. For the purposes of the exempt salaries plan prepared pursuant to Section 10-9- 5 NMSA 1978, each district public defender shall be considered an assistant in the offices of the chief.

Terms Used In New Mexico Statutes 31-15-11

  • Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Public defender: Represent defendants who can't afford an attorney in criminal matters.

B. All employees of the department other than the chief, assistant chief public defenders, appellate defender and district public defenders shall be subject to the provisions of the Personnel Act [N.M. Stat. Ann. Chapter 10, Article 9], unless the employees are exempted from the Personnel Act by the commission.

C. Before the commission may exempt the department from the Personnel Act, the commission shall develop and adopt personnel policies for the department; provided that no employee of the department, except the chief, assistant chief public defenders, appellate defender and district public defenders, shall have fewer rights under these policies than under the Personnel Act and under administrative rules applicable to state employees on the effective date of this 2014 act.

D. No chief, assistant chief public defender, appellate defender, district public defender or attorney hired on a full-time basis as an assistant to the chief or to a district public defender, while holding that office or employed in that capacity, shall engage in the private practice of law. Attorneys who serve as counsel for indigent persons under contract with the department may engage in the private practice of law.

  Previous section
Next section  
 Article 15 Contents