South Dakota statute
SDCL § 23A-51-1 — Definitions
Current through text effective June 30, 2026 (through the 2025 Regular Session)
Part of Chapter 51: Indigent Legal Services, South Dakota Codified Laws.
Full text of SDCL § 23A-51-1
Statutory text current through the text effective June 30, 2026 (through the 2025 Regular Session). This publication reproduces the official statutory text; it is not the official statutes of the State of South Dakota.
The terms used in this chapter mean:
(1) "Attorney," a person licensed to practice law in this state as provided in chapter 16-16, with active membership and in good standing of the State Bar of South Dakota;
(2) "Chief defender," the attorney appointed by the commission to head the Office of Indigent Legal Services;
(3) "Commission," the Commission of Indigent Legal Services;
(4) "Effective assistance of counsel," legal defense services in a criminal case that comply with the standards required by state and federal law;
(5) "Indigent," a person who does not have sufficient money, credit, or property to employ an attorney and pay for the necessary expenses of representation;
(6) "Indigent representation services," legal defense services provided by an attorney to an indigent person where there is a right to counsel under state or federal law;
(7) "Office of Indigent Legal Services," or "office," a state government entity that provides direct indigent representation services and implements the objectives of the commission;
(8) "Private appointed attorney," an attorney who is not employed by the government and who provides indigent representation services; and
(9) "Public defender," an attorney employed by the government who provides indigent representation services.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.