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611.25 Powers; duties; limitations.

Subdivision 1. Representation. (a) The state public defender shall represent, without charge:

(1) a defendant or other person appealing from a conviction of a felony or gross misdemeanor;

(2) a person convicted of a felony or gross misdemeanor who is pursuing a postconviction proceeding and who has not already had a direct appeal of the conviction, but if the person pled guilty and received a presumptive sentence or a downward departure in sentence, and the state public defender reviewed the person's case and determined that there was no basis for an appeal of the conviction or of the sentence, then the state public defender may decline to represent the person in a postconviction remedy case; and

(3) a child who is appealing from a delinquency adjudication or from an extended jurisdiction juvenile conviction.

(b) The state public defender may represent, without charge, all other persons pursuing a postconviction remedy under section 590.01, who are financially unable to obtain counsel.

(c) The state public defender shall represent any other person, who is financially unable to obtain counsel, when directed to do so by the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeals, except that the state public defender shall not represent a person in any action or proceeding in which a party is seeking a monetary judgment, recovery or award. When requested by a district public defender or appointed counsel, the state public defender may assist the district public defender, appointed counsel, or an organization designated in section 611.216 in the performance of duties, including trial representation in matters involving legal conflicts of interest or other special circumstances, and assistance with legal research and brief preparation. When the state public defender is directed by a court to represent a defendant or other person, the state public defender may assign the representation to any district public defender.

Subd. 2. Repealed, 1989 c 335 art 1 s 270; art 3 s 57

Subd. 3. Duties. The state public defender may require the reporting of statistical data, budget information, and other cost factors by the chief district public defenders and appointed counsel systems. The state public defender shall design and conduct programs for the training of all state and district public defenders, appointed counsel, and attorneys for public defense corporations funded under section 611.26. The state public defender shall establish policies and procedures to administer the district public defender system, consistent with standards adopted by the State Board of Public Defense.

HIST: 1965 c 869 s 12; 1969 c 655 s 3; 1983 c 247 s 215; 1986 c 444; 1987 c 250 s 10; 1991 c 345 art 3 s 11,12; 1993 c 146 art 2 s 22; 1994 c 576 s 52; 1997 c 7 art 2 s 63; 1998 c 367 art 8 s 16; 1Sp2003 c 2 art 3 s 6

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes