---
title: O.C.G.A. § 17-12-21. Qualifications for public defender position.
collection: code
id: 17-12-21
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 17-12-21 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-12-21
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-12-21.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-12-21/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t17-(v15)-2020-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=8c04ccfe_0#page=1314
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-12.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-12-20.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-12-22.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: CRIMINAL PROCEDURE / LEGAL DEFENSE FOR INDIGENTS / PUBLIC DEFENDERS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 17-12-21. Qualifications for public defender position.

To be eligible to fill the position of circuit public defender, a person must:

(1) Have attained the age of 25 years;

(2) Have been duly admitted and licensed to practice law in the superior courts for at least three years;

(3) Be a member in good standing of the State Bar of Georgia; and

(4) If previously disbarred from the practice of law, have been reinstated as provided by law.

## History

Code 1981, § 17-12-21, enacted by Ga. L. 2003, p. 191, § 1.