Appointment of counsel for accused; felonies punishable by a mandatory minimum term of confinement.

Appointment of counsel for accused; feloniespunishable by a mandatory minimum term of confinement for life.Provides that in any case in which an indigent defendant is chargedwith any felony punishable by a mandatory minimum term of confinementfor life, the court shall appoint two competent, qualified, and experiencedattorneys, one of whom shall be the public defender in a jurisdictionin which a public defender office is established, for the defendant.Under current law, the court is required to appoint two such attorneysin cases in which an indigent defendant is charged with a Class 1felony. This bill is a recommendation of the Virginia Criminal JusticeConference.