IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 23, 2025
Introduced by dadudeds (for themself; and EMSPride)
An Act to reorganize the Public Defender’s Office.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Firestone in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE
This bill may be known as the “Public Defenders Act”.
SEC. 2. EFFECTIVENESS
This Act shall be effective upon completion of the constitutionally required process.
SEC. 3. SEVERABILITY
Should any part of this Act be struck down or declared unenforceable, then that part of the Act shall be considered severed from this Act, and the rest shall remain in full force.
SEC. 4. REORGANIZATION
(a) The Public Defender’s Office of the Department of Justice shall become an independent agency outside of the Executive Branch.
(b) The Public Defender’s Office shall be considered an employer for the purposes of employment law, but the Governor shall not need to approve its disciplinary rules or regulations or be notified of amendments thereto.
(c) The Public Defender’s Office may sue or be sued. Its representation is the responsibility of the Public Defender; but if that position is vacant then the Chief Justice or their designee shall instruct counsel on behalf of the Public Defender’s Office.
SEC. 5. THE PUBLIC DEFENDER
(a) The Chief Justice (or if that office is vacant, the longest-serving Associate Justice) may at their sole discretion appoint, or terminate the appointment of, a licensed attorney in good standing to be the Public Defender of the State of Firestone, whether on a permanent, interim, or fixed-term basis.
(b) The Public Defender shall lead and manage the Public Defender’s Office. This individual, for the duration of their appointment, shall be responsible and accountable for the Public Defender Office and its management, including in recruiting or disciplining employees of the Public Defender’s Office.