ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS

In Frederick County, governmental offices of law include the County Attorney, the Public Defender, and the State's Attorney.

COUNTY ATTORNEY

The County Attorney serves as legal advisor to the County Executive, the County Council, and other officers and agencies of Frederick County Government, and is responsible for all legal affairs of the County's government. The County Attorney also handles all civil litigation involving the County, its officers, or employees.

Formerly appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, the County Attorney since December 2014 has been appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent (County Charter, Art. 4, sec. 411).

PUBLIC DEFENDER

For indigent defendants in Frederick County, the District Public Defender provides legal representation, including related necessary services and facilities. The District Public Defender assures effective assistance and continuity of counsel to those indigent accused who are taken into custody, and indigent defendants in criminal and juvenile proceedings before Maryland courts (Code Criminal Procedure Article, secs. 16-201 through 16-213).

STATE'S ATTORNEY

[photo, Courthouse, 100 West Patrick St., Frederick, Maryland]

Starting in 1818, duties of the State's Attorney were first carried out by the District Attorney (Chapter 146, Acts of 1817). Appointed by the Governor in each judicial district, the District Attorney prosecuted cases on behalf of the State. By 1821, the District Attorney was renamed the Deputy Attorney and was appointed by the Attorney General (Chapter 126, Acts of 1821). The office of State's Attorney was first authorized in 1851 (Constitution of 1851, Art. V, secs. 1-5).

Courthouse, 100 West Patrick St., Frederick, Maryland, August 2006. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

The State's Attorney prosecutes and defends, on the part of the State, all criminal cases in Frederick County in which the State may be interested (Code Criminal Procedure Article, secs. 15-101 through 15-109, 15-411).

Aiding the State's Attorney's Office are the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council and the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATING COUNCIL

The Domestic Violence Coordinating Council advises the County Executive, County Council, and Criminal Justice Coordinating Commission on policies, programs, and legislation to prevent domestic violence, and assist victims and their families. The Council also evaluates and helps implement recommendations of the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team. In addition, the Council coordinates its work with other government agencies and nonprofit groups, including the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence.

Staffed by the State's Attorney's Office, the Council reports annually to the County Executive and County Council.

Seventeen members make up the Council. Of these, thirteen serve ex officio. Three members are appointed to three-year terms and a student is named to a one-year term by the County Executive with County Council consent. Every two years, the Council chooses the Chair and Vice-Chair (County Code, Art. XIV, secs. 1-2-400 through 1-2-406)

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FATALITY REVIEW TEAM
In Frederick County, the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team was established in October 2006.

The Team strives to prevent deaths related to domestic violence. It promotes cooperation and coordination among agencies involved in investigating deaths related to domestic violence, and provides services to victims of domestic violence, abusers, or surviving members. The Team also seeks to develop an understanding of the causes and incidences of deaths related to domestic violence in the County; and develop plans for and recommend changes within those agencies that Team members represent (Chapter 233, Acts of 2005; Code Family Law Article, secs. 4-701 through 4-707).

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