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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>351334</law_id><section_number>19.2-163.5</section_number><catch_line>Legal services to public defenders and/or assistant public defenders</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="54" identifier="19.2">Criminal Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="13" identifier="10">Disability of Judge or Attorney for Commonwealth; Court- Appointed Counsel; Interpreters; Transcripts</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="4" identifier="4">Public Defenders</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>At the request of a <span class="dictionary">public defender</span>, the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> shall provide legal services to such attorney, his assistants, or members of his staff in any proceeding brought against him, his assistants, or staff for money <span class="dictionary">damages</span>, when the <span class="dictionary">cause of action</span> allegedly arises out of the duties of his office.</p><p>Any costs chargeable against the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> or <span class="dictionary">defendants</span> in any such case shall be paid by the Commonwealth from the appropriation for the payment of criminal charges.</p></section></text><history>1978, c. 698.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
