N.Y. County Law § 716: Public defender; appointment; term; other employees

§ 716. Public defender; appointment; term; other employees. The board

of supervisors of any county may create an office of public defender, or

may authorize a contract between its county and one or more other such

counties to create an office of public defender to serve such counties.

A city may create an office of public defender in any county wholly

contained within its borders and such city shall possess with respect to

such office all the powers conferred upon a board of supervisors by the

provisions of this article. The board or boards of supervisors may

designate an attorney-at-law as public defender and shall fix his term

and compensation. Subject to the approval of such board or boards, the

public defender may appoint as many assistant attorneys, clerks,

investigators, stenographers and other employees as he may deem

necessary and as shall be authorized by such board or boards. The

public defender shall fix the compensation of such aides and assistants

within the amounts such board or boards may appropriate for such

purposes. Notwithstanding any other provision of law relating to the

creation of county offices, where the board of supervisors of any county

has established an office of public defender by resolution, and

thereafter such office is created by local law, such local law may

authorize the payment of compensation and other expenses incurred in the

operation of said office retroactive to the date of the adoption of said

resolution.