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DEC 4 1985 BOOK fAGc <br />E. Resolution in Support of Adequate Funding for Public Defender <br />ON MOTION by Commissioner Scurlock, SECONDED by <br />Commissioner Bird, the Board unanimously adopted <br />Resolution 85-134 requesting the State to providing <br />adequate funding for the Public Defender's office. <br />RESOLUTION NO. 85-134 <br />A RESOLUTION OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, <br />FLORIDA, TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE <br />LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA IN <br />SUPPORT OF ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR THE <br />PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE IN THE 19TH <br />JUDICIAL CIRCUIT. <br />WHEREAS, the 19th Judicial Circuit is comprised of <br />Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin and Okeechobee Counties; and <br />WHEREAS, the Public Defender for the District has <br />requested each of the named counties for county contributions to his <br />budget for fiscal year 1985-86 so that he will be able to perform <br />his State -mandated duties in the defense of defendants charged with <br />criminal charges; and <br />WHEREAS, Florida law provides that the funding of the <br />Public Defender's Office is the responsibility of the State and not <br />the counties; and <br />WHEREAS, if the counties fail to authorize a budgetary <br />increase for the Public Defender's Office, in reliance on State law, <br />his office will decline representation of a substantial number of <br />persons charged with criminal offenses who will then be given <br />court-appointed lawyers by the trial judge, at the expense of the <br />county; and <br />WHEREAS, this latter procedure would result in even more <br />expense to the county than by financing the Public Defender's Office <br />by direct county contribution; and <br />WHEREAS, Indian River County feels that the State is not <br />meeting its responsibility and is handicapping the County with <br />substantial unbudgeted expenses; <br />NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, <br />FLORIDA, THROUGH ITS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS that: <br />1. The Governor and the Florida Legislature are respectfully <br />requested to properly fund the budget of the Public Defender of the <br />19th Judicial Circuit for the 1985-86 fiscal year, so that the <br />counties comprising that circuit will not have to contribute <br />substantial unbudgeted county moneys for the support of a State <br />responsibility. <br />10 <br />