717 - Public defender; duties.

§   717.  Public  defender;  duties.  1.  The  public  defender  shall  represent, without charge, at the request of the defendant, or by  order  of  the court with the consent of the defendant, each indigent defendant  who is charged  with  a  crime  as  defined  in  section  seven  hundred  twenty-two-a  of  the county law in the county or counties in which such  public defender serves. When representing  an  indigent  defendant,  the  public  defender  shall  counsel and represent him at every stage of the  proceedings following arrest, shall initiate such proceedings as in  his  judgment are necessary to protect the rights of the accused, and may, in  his  discretion,  prosecute any appeal, if in his judgment the facts and  circumstances warrant such appeal.    2. The public defender shall also  represent,  without  charge,  in  a  proceeding  in  family  court  or  surrogate's  court  in  the county or  counties where such public  defender  serves,  any  person  entitled  to  counsel  pursuant  to  section  two hundred sixty-two and section eleven  hundred twenty of the family court act and section four hundred seven of  the surrogate's court procedure act, or any person entitled  to  counsel  pursuant  to  article  six-C  of  the correction law, who is financially  unable to obtain counsel. When  representing  such  person,  the  public  defender  shall  counsel  and  represent  him  at  every  stage  of  the  proceedings, shall initiate such proceedings as in the judgment  of  the  public  defender are necessary to protect the rights of such person, and  may  prosecute  any  appeal  when,  in  his  judgment  the   facts   and  circumstances warrant such appeal.