2016 Mississippi Code
Title 99 - Criminal Procedure
Chapter 18 - Office of State Public Defender
§ 99-18-17. Conflict of interest; employment of qualified private counsel; payment of fees and expenses; Capital Defense Counsel Fund

(1) If at any time during the representation of two (2) or more defendants, the State Defender determines that the interests of those persons are so adverse or hostile they cannot all be represented by the staff of the Capital Counsel Division without conflict of interest, or if the State Defender determines that the volume or number of representations shall so require, the State Defender, in his sole discretion, notwithstanding any statute or regulation to the contrary, shall be authorized to employ qualified private counsel. Fees and expenses approved by order of the court of original jurisdiction, including investigative and expert witness expenses of such private counsel, shall be paid by funds appropriated to the Capital Defense Counsel Fund for this purpose.

(2) There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the Capital Defense Counsel Fund. The purpose of the fund shall be to provide funding for the Capital Defense Counsel Division. Monies from the funds derived from assessments under Section 99-19-73 shall be distributed by the State Treasurer upon warrants issued by the State Defender. The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal-year limitations, and shall consist of:

(a) Monies appropriated by the Legislature for the purposes of funding the Capital Defense Counsel Division;

(b) The interest accruing to the fund;

(c) Monies received under the provisions of Section 99-19-73;

(d) Monies received from the federal government;

(e) Donations; and

(f) Monies received from such other sources as may be provided by law.