Okla. Stat. tit. 19, § 19-138.3: Determination of need for county indigent defender and

assistants.

Judges of the courts of record of any county subject to the

provisions of this act shall determine, at the time the county

budget is submitted, the necessity of retaining a county indigent

defender or assistants thereto on a full-time or part-time basis at

public expense for representation of unfortunate and poverty

stricken persons charged with commission of a crime, which

determination shall be made after inquiry into the number

impoverished or destitute defendants which have been brought before

such courts during the past term and an estimate of the number that

may be charged during the next fiscal year.