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.
Added by Laws 1961, p. 210, § 3, emerg. eff. Aug. 7, 1961. Amended by Laws 1991, c. 238, § 24, eff. July 1, 1991.