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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>85524</law_id><section_number>15.2-1606</section_number><catch_line>Defense of constitutional officers; appointment of counsel</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>58.1-3146</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="15.2">Counties, Cities and Towns</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Powers of Local Government</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="16">Local Constitutional Officers, Courthouses and Supplies</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Local Constitutional Officers, Courthouses and Supplies</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>In the event that any treasurer, sheriff, attorney for the Commonwealth, clerk of the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> or commissioner of the revenue, or any deputy or assistant of any of such officers, is made <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> in any <span class="dictionary">civil action</span> arising out of the performance of his official duties and does not have legal defense provided under the insurance coverage of his office, such officer, or deputy or assistant thereto, may make application to the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> for the <span class="dictionary">county</span> or <span class="dictionary">city</span> in which he serves to assign <span class="dictionary">counsel</span> for his defense in such action. The <span class="dictionary">court</span> may, upon good cause shown, make such <span class="dictionary">orders</span> respecting the employment of an attorney or attorneys, including the attorney for the Commonwealth, as may be appropriate, and fix his compensation. Reimbursement of any expenses incurred in the defense of such charge may also be allowed by the <span class="dictionary">court</span>. Such legal fees and expenses shall be paid from the treasury of the <span class="dictionary">county</span> or <span class="dictionary">city</span>, and reimbursement shall be made from the Compensation Board in the proportions set out in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Proportion borne by Commonwealth and by localities" href="/15.2-1636.14/">15.2-1636.14</a>.</p></section></text><history>1977, c. 554, &#xA7; 15.1-66.4; 1985, c. 321; 1997, c. 587.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
