Chap. 360.—An ACT permitting the creation of the office of public defender ir
cities having a population of fifty thousand or more, and providing for thei
appointment and defining their power and duties. [HH B 469)

Approved March 20, 1920.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That al
judges of courts, having criminal jurisdiction in cities having, accord
ing to the last United States census, a population of not less than
one hundred nor more than one hundred and sixty thousand, may,
in their discretion, appoint a discreet 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 jus-
tice of said court to assign the public defender to defend him or her,
and, should the judge trying the case be satisfied of the inability of
the accused to employ counsel, said judge shall order the public de-
fender 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 appointing
him. He shall serve without compensation unless the councils of such
cities, respectively, shall, in their discretion, provide for his compensa-
tion.

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