The advisory committee shall appoint and dismiss the public defender. To be appointed, a person shall be licensed to practice law in this state, be competent to counsel and defend a person charged with a crime, and have basic knowledge of, and experience in, criminal law.

Terms Used In South Dakota Codified Laws 7-16A-5

  • Person: includes natural persons, partnerships, associations, cooperative corporations, limited liability companies, and corporations. See South Dakota Codified Laws 2-14-2
  • Public defender: Represent defendants who can't afford an attorney in criminal matters.

Source: SL 1978, ch 152, §§ 3, 4; SL 1983, ch 45, § 2.