A. The chief is responsible to the commission for the operation of the department. It is the chief’s duty to manage all operations of the department and to:

Terms Used In New Mexico Statutes 31-15-7

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • Personal property: All property that is not real property.
  • Public defender: Represent defendants who can't afford an attorney in criminal matters.
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.

(1)     administer and carry out the provisions of the Public Defender Act with which the chief is charged;

(2)     exercise authority over and provide general supervision of employees of the department; and

(3)     represent and advocate for the department and its clients.

B. To perform the chief’s duties, the chief has every power implied as necessary for that purpose, those powers expressly enumerated in the Public Defender Act or other laws and full power and authority to:

(1)     exercise general supervisory authority over all employees of the department;

(2)     delegate authority to subordinates as the chief deems necessary and appropriate;

(3)     within the limitations of applicable appropriations and applicable laws, employ and fix the compensation of those persons necessary to discharge the chief’s duties;

(4)     organize the department into those units the chief deems necessary and appropriate to carry out the chief’s duties;

(5)     conduct research and studies that will improve the operation of the department and the administration of the Public Defender Act;

(6)     provide courses of instruction and practical training for employees of the department that will improve the operation of the department and the administration of the Public Defender Act;

(7)     purchase or lease personal property and lease real property for the use of the department;

(8)     maintain records and statistical data that reflect the operation and administration of the department;

(9)     submit an annual report and budget covering the operation of the department together with appropriate recommendations to the commission and, upon approval by the commission, to the legislature and the governor;

(10)    serve as defense counsel under the Public Defender Act as necessary and appropriate;

(11)    formulate a fee schedule for attorneys who are not employees of the department who serve as counsel for indigent persons under the Public Defender Act;

(12)    adopt a standard to determine indigency;

(13)    provide for the collection of reimbursement from each person who has received legal representation or another benefit under the Public Defender Act after a determination is made that the person was not indigent according to the standard for indigency adopted by the department. Any amounts recovered shall be paid to the state treasurer for credit to the general fund;

(14)    require each person who desires legal representation or another benefit under the Public Defender Act to enter into a contract with the department agreeing to reimburse the department if a determination is made that the person was not indigent according to the standard for indigency adopted by the department; and

(15)    certify contracts and expenditures for litigation expenses, including contracts and expenditures for professional and nonprofessional experts, investigators and witness fees, but not including attorney contracts, pursuant to the provisions of the Procurement Code N.M. Stat. Ann. § 13-1-28 to 13-1-199.

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