(a) The presiding judge of the circuit court, the district court or the municipal court, when the district attorney or assistant district attorney regularly required by law to prosecute criminal cases in such court is absent, or connected with the party against whom it is his duty to appear by consanguinity or affinity within the fourth degree, or when there is a vacancy in the office from any cause, or when the district attorney refuses to act, may appoint a competent attorney to act in such district attorney's place, but such appointment shall in no event extend beyond the session of the court at which the appointment is made.
(b) The attorney so appointed shall receive for his services the sum of $25.00 per day for the time he is actually engaged in court, to be paid on the warrant of the Comptroller if the district attorney for whom he is appointed to act is paid by the state, there being hereby appropriated annually out of the general funds in the State Treasury a sum of money sufficient to pay such attorney; and he shall be paid by the county for his services the sum of $25.00 per day for the time he is actually engaged in court on warrant of the probate judge or presiding officer of the county commission if the district attorney for whom he is appointed to act is paid by the county.
(c) The clerk of the court appointing an attorney to act in a district attorney's place or, if there is no clerk, the presiding judge of such court, shall certify to the Comptroller in writing the number of days such attorney was so engaged in court if the district attorney for whom he is appointed to act is paid by the state, and shall certify to the probate judge or presiding officer of the county commission in writing the number of days such attorney was so engaged in court if the district attorney for whom he is appointed to act is paid by the county, and such certification shall be the basis for the warrant to be drawn by the Comptroller or the probate judge or presiding officer of the county commission as the case may be.
Last modified: May 3, 2021