§ 14.11. Same—Compensation; appointment, qualifications and duties of assistants.

The public defender shall receive a salary of eight thousand dollars ($8,000.00) per annum, payable semimonthly.

For the proper conduct of the business of his or her office the public defender is authorized to employ one (1) deputy or assistant at a salary not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) per annum, payable semimonthly, and to employ one (1) stenographer at a salary not to exceed four thousand dollars ($4,000.00) per annum, payable semimonthly. Any person appointed assistant public defender or deputy public defender shall be licensed to practice law in Tennessee and shall be at the time of his or her appointment, and shall continue to be during the period of his or her service, a resident of the area of the metropolitan government. Any person appointed assistant or deputy public defender shall serve at the pleasure of the public defender and notice of his or her appointment or of the revocation of the same shall be in writing and filed with the clerk of the criminal court. Such assistant or deputy public defender may attend all criminal courts and discharge the duties imposed by law upon the public defender. The assistant or deputy public defender designated by the public defender or by the court in his or her absence, shall perform the duties of said office during any period when the public defender is disabled or otherwise unable to attend court. No assistant or deputy public defender shall engage in the private practice of criminal law during the period of his or her service, except to conclude matters pending when he or she was appointed.

The council by ordinance may provide such additional assistants, investigators or other personnel as it may determine the public defender to require, and also by ordinance may enlarge or restrict the duties of the public defender as to the class of cases in which he or she shall act as attorney for indigent defendants.

(Amended by referendum election of November 6, 2018, Amdt. 6)

Editor's note— See Metropolitan Charter § 18.05 for changes in salary and compensation through the general pay plan.