47-1-301. Appellate defender division -- division administrator. (1) There is an appellate defender division. The appellate defender division must be located in Helena, Montana.

(2) (a) The director shall hire and supervise the appellate defender division administrator to manage and supervise the appellate defender division. The appellate defender division administrator is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the director. The director shall establish compensation for the position commensurate with the position's duties and responsibilities, taking into account the compensation paid to prosecutors with similar responsibilities.

(b) The appellate defender division administrator must be an attorney licensed to practice law in the state.

(c) The position of appellate defender division administrator is exempt from the state classification and pay plan as provided in 2-18-103.

(3) Subject to approval by the director, the appellate defender division administrator shall:

(a) direct, manage, and supervise all public defender services provided by the appellate defender division;

(b) ensure that when a court orders the appellate defender division to assign an appellate lawyer or when a defendant or petitioner is otherwise entitled to an appellate public defender, the assignment is made promptly to a qualified and appropriate appellate defender who is immediately available to the defendant or petitioner when necessary;

(c) ensure that appellate defender assignments comply with the provisions of 47-1-202(1)(c) and standards for counsel for indigent persons in capital cases issued by the Montana supreme court;

(d) hire and supervise the work of appellate defender division personnel;

(e) contract for services as provided in 47-1-121 and as authorized by the director according to the strategic plan for the delivery of public defender services;

(f) keep a record of appellate defender services and expenses of the appellate defender division and submit records and reports to the central services division provided for in 47-1-119;

(g) implement standards and procedures established by the director for the appellate defender division;

(h) maintain a minimum client caseload as determined by the director;

(i) confer with the director on budgetary issues and submit budgetary requests and information for the reports required by law or by the governor; and

(j) perform all other duties assigned to the appellate defender division administrator by the director.