S-4242.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6645

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1998 Regular Session

By Senators Johnson, Haugen and McCaslin

Read first time 01/26/98.  Referred to Committee on Law & Justice.

Eliminating the requirement that the director of public defense have experience representing persons accused of crime.

    AN ACT Relating to the office of public defense; and amending RCW 2.70.010.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

    Sec. 1.  RCW 2.70.010 and 1996 c 221 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

    The supreme court shall appoint the director of the office of public defense from a list of three names submitted by the advisory committee created under RCW 2.70.030.  Qualifications shall include admission to the practice of law in this state for at least five years, ((experience in the representation of persons accused of a crime, and)) proven managerial or supervisory experience, and other criteria established by the advisory committee.  The director shall serve at the pleasure of the supreme court and receive a salary to be fixed by the advisory committee.

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