# N.J. Stat. § 2A:158A-3: Establishment of the Office of the Public Defender

> New Jersey · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T2A_C158A_S158A-3

## Section

- **Citation:** N.J. Stat. § 2A:158A-3
- **Heading:** Establishment of the Office of the Public Defender
- **Jurisdiction:** New Jersey
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** NJ Code / Title 2A / Chapter 158A / Section 158A-3

## Text

3. There is hereby established in the Executive Branch of the State Government the Office of the Public Defender. For the purpose of complying with the provisions of Article V, Section IV, paragraph 1 of the New Jersey Constitution, the Office of the Public Defender is hereby allocated within the Department of the Treasury, but, notwithstanding said allocation, the office shall be independent of any supervision or control by the department or by any board or officer thereof. L.1967, c.43, s.3; amended 1974, c.27, s.9; 1994, c.58, s.7; 2010, c.34, s.2.

## Nearby sections

- [N.J. Stat. § 2A:158A-1 Declaration of state policy](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T2A_C158A_S158A-1.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 2A:158A-2 "Indigent defendant" defined](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T2A_C158A_S158A-2.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 2A:158A-3 Establishment of the Office of the Public Defender.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T2A_C158A_S158A-3.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 2A:158A-4 Public defender; appointment; term; salary; vacancy](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T2A_C158A_S158A-4.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 2A:158A-5 Duties of public defender.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T2A_C158A_S158A-5.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 2A:158A-5.2 Offenses and violations; legal representation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T2A_C158A_S158A-5.2.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 2A:158A-5.3 Office of the Public Defender, unit established, representation, parole revocation, violation.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T2A_C158A_S158A-5.3.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 2A:158A-6 Deputy and assistant public defenders; appointment; salary](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T2A_C158A_S158A-6.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 2A:158A-7 Powers, responsibilities of public defender](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T2A_C158A_S158A-7.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 2A:158A-8 Lawyers to represent defendants on case basis; selection](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T2A_C158A_S158A-8.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 2A:158A-9 Case workload; division; employment of counsel](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T2A_C158A_S158A-9.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 2A:158A-10 Contracts authorizing private or public organizations to execute functions of public defender](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T2A_C158A_S158A-10.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 2A:158A-11 Duties of staff members and others engaged on case basis](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T2A_C158A_S158A-11.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 2A:158A-12 Attorney-client privilege](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T2A_C158A_S158A-12.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T2A_C158A_S158A-3. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.