CHAP. 204.—An ACT permitting the creaticn of the office of public de-
fender in cities having a population of fifty thousand, or more, and
providing for their appointment and defining their powers and duties.

(S. B. 233.)
Approved March 16, 1916.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
all judges of courts, having criminal jurisdiction in cities hav-
ing, accord'ng to the last United States census, a population of
fifty thousand, or more, may, in their discretion, appoint a dis-
creet and competent attorney-at-law to act as public defender
in their respective courts and in the police courts from which
appeal lies to said courts.
Whenever any person is before any of said courts charged
with the commission of any crime, he or she may request the
judge or justice of said court to assign the public defender to
defend him or her and, should the judge trying the case be satis-
fied of the inab.lity of the accused to employ counsel, said judge
shall order the public defender to represent and defend such
person.

Each of said public defenders shall be appointed for a term
of two years, but may be removed at any time by the judge ap-
pointing him. He shall serve without compensation unless the
councils of such cities, respectively, shall, in their discretion,
provide for his compensation.

The said public defender shall keep a record of the cases de-
fended by him, and shall make an annual report to the court ap-
pointing him, which report shall be spread on the order book
of said court.