(a) The court of criminal appeals shall appoint a director to direct and supervise the operation of the office. The director serves a four-year term and continues to serve until a successor has been appointed and qualified. The court of criminal appeals may remove the director only for good cause. The director may be reappointed for a second or subsequent term.
(b) The director shall employ attorneys and employ or retain licensed investigators, experts, and other personnel necessary to perform the duties of the office. To be employed by the director, an attorney may not have been found by a state or federal court to have rendered ineffective assistance of counsel during the trial or appeal of a criminal case.

Terms Used In Texas Government Code 78.053

  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.

(c) The director and any attorney employed by the office may not:
(1) engage in the private practice of criminal law; or
(2) accept anything of value not authorized by law for services rendered under this subchapter.

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