(a) When a criminal action is initiated in any court by warrant, information, or indictment against any state employee, as defined in this chapter, for an act apparently done by the employee in the scope of the employee’s assigned official duty, the attorney general and reporter will not represent the employee or provide representation. In the event that the criminal charges against the employee are dismissed with prejudice or in the event that the employee is acquitted at trial or upon appeal, all reasonable compensation for the employee’s counsel, court costs or necessary incidental expenses, as determined by the attorney general and reporter, in connection with the action, shall be payable from the funds appropriated to the attorney general and reporter pursuant to this chapter. In the event that the charges against the employee are retired or dismissed, or the case is not prosecuted for any other reason, the attorney general and reporter may compensate such counsel for all reasonable fees and necessary incidental expenses and pay court costs in connection with the action, where the attorney general and reporter finds that the employee did act in the scope of the employee’s assigned duties under apparent lawful orders or authority when the employee took the actions resulting in the institution of the criminal action. In no event shall any funds be expended for compensation for counsel, court costs or necessary incidental expenses, where the employee is convicted of any criminal offense.

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 8-42-104

  • 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.
  • Attorney general: means the attorney general and reporter and any assistant thereto by whatever name known, any district attorney general and any assistant thereto by whatever name called, and any officer or full-time employee of the general assembly or any committee thereof established by statute, who is duly licensed to practice law in Tennessee, whose duty it is to provide facilities for drafting bills or to assist individual legislators in drafting bills or who renders legal advice and services to the members of the general assembly or committees thereof. See Tennessee Code 8-34-101
  • Attorney general and reporter: means the attorney general and reporter of Tennessee. See Tennessee Code 8-42-101
  • Counsel: means any practicing attorney licensed to practice law in the state. See Tennessee Code 8-42-101
  • Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
  • Reporter: Makes a record of court proceedings and prepares a transcript, and also publishes the court's opinions or decisions (in the courts of appeals).
  • State: means the state of Tennessee. See Tennessee Code 8-34-101
  • State employee: includes a foster parent under a contract with the state, or with an agency under contract with the state, to provide foster home care for children in the care and custody of the state and within the confines of the foster parent-child relationship. See Tennessee Code 8-42-101
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b) For the exclusive purpose of this section, “state employee” includes attorneys appointed by a court, or other agency authorized by law to make such appointments, to represent an indigent when a criminal action is commenced against such attorney for any act or omission in the course of representing such indigent. When a criminal action is initiated against such an attorney, the written request shall be made by the administrative director of the courts. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, such attorney shall not be considered to be a state employee for any other purpose including, but not limited to, §§ 9-8-112 and 9-8-307.
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