This law requires courts in Virginia to appoint counsel for indigent defendants charged with Class 1 felonies or life-mandatory minimum felonies. If a public defender is available and no conflict exists, they are appointed; otherwise, the court appoints qualified attorneys from the Indigent Defense Commission list. In jurisdictions without a public defender, two attorneys are appointed for indigent defendants.
Indigent defendants charged with Class 1 felonies or life-mandatory minimum felonies are eligible for court-appointed counsel.
If a public defender has a conflict, the court appoints additional qualified attorneys from the Indigent Defense Commission list to serve as co-counsel.
Two competent, qualified attorneys are appointed as co-counsels for indigent defendants in such jurisdictions.
The law does not specify that defendants can choose their attorneys; appointments are made from the qualified list maintained by the Indigent Defense Commission.