(A) The Board shall consist of three members. The Board of Commissioners shall appoint one member. The judges who exercise felony or juvenile jurisdiction in the county shall appoint by majority vote one member. The Indiana Public Defender Commission shall appoint one member who must be a resident of the county. The appointment by the Indiana Public Defender Commission shall begin upon the first expiration of a current term of a member appointed by the judges who exercise felony or juvenile jurisdiction in the county. Prior to July 1, 2019, the judges who exercise felony or juvenile jurisdiction appointed two members.
(B) Each initially appointed member of the Board shall serve a three-year term beginning with the date of the member’s appointment.
(C) After the initial term of each member, appointments shall be for three-year terms. Members of the Board shall serve until a successor is appointed. An appointment to fill a vacancy shall be made by the authority appointing the member vacating the position and shall be for the remainder of the unexpired term.
(D) The members must be persons who have demonstrated an interest in high quality legal representation for indigent persons. However, a member may not be:
(1) A city, town, or county attorney;
(2) A law enforcement officer;
(3) A judge;
(4) A court employee;
(5) An attorney who provides representation to indigent persons in the county;
(6) An employee of the Department of Child Service; or
(7) An employee of any individual described in divisions (1) through (6) above.
(E) Board members shall serve without pay but may receive reimbursement for expenses incurred in connection with the member’s duties if approved by the Board.
(F) Two members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting the business of the Board. Decisions of the Board shall be approved by a majority of the Board members present.
(G) Meetings shall be held at least quarterly and may be held at other times at the call of the:
(1) Chairperson; or
(2) Other two members.
(H) The Board shall elect its Chairperson by a majority vote of the Board.
(BC Ord. 1995-16, passed 11-6-1995; BC Ord. 2013-0003, passed 6-3-2013; Ord. 2020-0040, passed 7-6-2020)