An indigent person who is entitled to be represented by a public defender shall be counseled and defended at all stages of the matter beginning with the earliest time when a person providing his own counsel would be entitled to be represented by an attorney, including the revocation of probation or parole, appeal, and any other postconviction proceeding that the public defender and the indigent consider appropriate, unless the court in which a proceeding is brought determines that it is not a proceeding that a reasonable person with adequate means would be willing to bring at his own expense. Representation may include cocounsel or associate counsel in appropriate cases.

Terms Used In South Dakota Codified Laws 7-16A-10

  • 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.
  • Person: includes natural persons, partnerships, associations, cooperative corporations, limited liability companies, and corporations. See South Dakota Codified Laws 2-14-2
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
  • Public defender: Represent defendants who can't afford an attorney in criminal matters.

Source: SL 1978, ch 152, § 9.