15.2-1606 - Defense of constitutional officers; appointment of counsel.
§ 15.2-1606. Defense of constitutional officers; appointment of counsel.
In the event that any treasurer, sheriff, attorney for the Commonwealth,clerk of the circuit court or commissioner of the revenue, or any deputy orassistant of any of such officers, is made defendant in any civil actionarising out of the performance of his official duties and does not have legaldefense provided under the insurance coverage of his office, such officer, ordeputy or assistant thereto, may make application to the circuit court forthe county or city in which he serves to assign counsel for his defense insuch action. The court may, upon good cause shown, make such ordersrespecting the employment of an attorney or attorneys, including the attorneyfor the Commonwealth, as may be appropriate, and fix his compensation.Reimbursement of any expenses incurred in the defense of such charge may alsobe allowed by the court. Such legal fees and expenses shall be paid from thetreasury of the county or city, and reimbursement shall be made from theCompensation Board in the proportions set out in § 15.2-1636.14.
(1977, c. 554, § 15.1-66.4; 1985, c. 321; 1997, c. 587.)