§16–203.

    (a)    (1)    The head of the Office is the Public Defender.

        (2)    The Public Defender shall be appointed by the Board of Trustees.

        (3)    By a vote of at least seven members, the Board of Trustees may remove the Public Defender for:

            (i)    misconduct in office;

            (ii)    persistent failure to perform the duties of the Office; or

            (iii)    conduct prejudicial to the proper administration of justice.

        (4)    To qualify for appointment as Public Defender, an individual shall be an attorney admitted to practice law in the State by the Supreme Court of Maryland who has engaged in the practice of law for at least 5 years before appointment.

        (5)    The Public Defender shall receive the same salary as a judge of a circuit court.

        (6)    The Public Defender may not engage in the private practice of law.

        (7)    The Public Defender serves for a term of 6 years.

    (b)    (1)    With the approval of the Board of Trustees, the Public Defender shall appoint:

            (i)    a deputy public defender who is in the executive service of the State Personnel Management System; and

            (ii)    one district public defender for each district of the District Court, each of whom is in the management service of the State Personnel Management System.

        (2)    The deputy public defender and each district public defender shall have the same qualifications as the Public Defender.

        (3)    A district public defender shall:

            (i)    assist the Public Defender to perform the duties of the Office; and

            (ii)    subject to the supervision of the Public Defender, be in charge of the public defender offices in the district for which the district public defender is appointed.

    (c)    (1)    With the advice of the district public defenders, the Public Defender may employ assistant public defenders in accordance with the State budget.

        (2)    To qualify for employment as an assistant public defender, an individual shall be an attorney and admitted to practice law in the State by the Supreme Court of Maryland.

        (3)    Assistant public defenders are in the professional service of the State Personnel Management System and may be terminated or otherwise disciplined only for cause in accordance with Title 11 of the State Personnel and Pensions Article.

    (d)    (1)    The deputy public defender and district public defenders shall serve at the pleasure of the Public Defender.

        (2)    The deputy public defender, district public defenders, and assistant public defenders may not engage in the private practice of criminal law.

    (e)    The Public Defender shall employ investigators, stenographic assistants, clerical assistants, and other personnel as may be required to assist the Public Defender and the district public defenders to perform the duties of the Office in accordance with the State budget.

    (f)    (1)    Subject to subsections (b)(1) and (c)(3) of this section, all other positions in the Office are in the executive, management, professional, or skilled service of the State Personnel Management System.

        (2)    Employees in the professional or skilled service may be terminated or otherwise disciplined only for cause in accordance with Title 11 of the State Personnel and Pensions Article.

    (g)    (1)    Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Public Defender shall establish and maintain suitable offices in the State.

        (2)    At least one Public Defender’s office shall be in each district.

    (h)    The number of positions, compensation, and expenses for the Office shall be in accordance with the State budget.