Chap. 334.—An ACT to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a new section
thereto numbered 5058-a providing for the appointment of attorneys to defend
convicts charged with the commission of felonies and the payment of compensa
tion to such attorneys for such defense. {[H 179]

Approved March 31, 1948

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia be amended by adding a new section
thereto numbered fifty hundred and fifty-eight-a as follows:

Section 5058-a. Whenever the judge of said court appoints an
attorney to defend a convict charged with an offense that may be punish-
able by death, or by confinement in the penitentiary for a period of more
than ten years, he may direct that a sum of money not to exceed twenty-
five dollars shall be paid out of the funds appropriated in the general
appropriations act for criminal costs to the attorney so appointed to de-
fend such convict as compensation for such defense, and when such con-
vict is charged with the commission of a felony other than those above
mentioned, the judge of said court may direct the payment of a sum
not to exceed fifteen dollars payable out of said funds ; provided, however,
that whenever two or more convicts are tried on the same day in the
same court and the same attorney defends them the judge shall fix and
allow a reasonable lump sum fee to compensate such attorney for his
services and direct the payment thereof out of said funds, said fee shall
in no event exceed one-half of the aggregate of the fees allowable herein
for defending a single convict.

That all acts and parts of acts inconsistent with the provisions of
this act are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency.