State of Maryland

The Public Defender directs the operation of the Office of Public Defender and its district offices. Fees and expenses paid for private legal and technical services are set and the services of volunteer workers are coordinated by the Public Defender. The Public Defender also coordinates the services of the Office with federal programs providing counsel to indigent defendants. In addition, the Public Defender cooperates with professional groups to evaluate the causes of crime, develop ways to reduce or discourage criminal behavior and rehabilitate offenders, and improve the administration of the criminal justice system.

Appointed by the Board of Trustees to a six-year term, the Public Defender must be an attorney-at-law who has been admitted to practice in Maryland by the Court of Appeals and engaged in the practice of law for a period of five years prior to appointment. The Public Defender, with the approval of the Board of Trustees, appoints the Deputy Public Defender and, for each district of the District Court, appoints one District Public Defender who must possess the same qualifications as the Public Defender. With the advice of the District Public Defender, Assistant Public Defenders may be appointed by the Public Defender (Chapters 223 & 224, Acts of 2010; Code Criminal Procedure Article, secs. 16-101 through 16-213).

A Class Description provides information about the Nature of Work, Examples of Work and General Requirements for a classification in the Management Service or a classification in the Skilled or Professional Service in which all positions have been designated Special Appointments. Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities; Minimum Education and Experience Requirements; Special Requirements; and recruitment and testing procedures are set by the using agency.

Class descriptions broadly define groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.