The state public defender shall be appointed by the defender council without regard to chapters 76 and 89. The state public defender’s appointment shall be for a term of four years except as otherwise provided herein, and until the state public defender’s successor is appointed and qualified. The state public defender shall be qualified to practice law before the supreme court of this State. Effective July 1, 2005, the state public defender shall be paid a salary set at eighty-seven per cent of the attorney general. The state public defender shall devote full time to the performance of the state public defender’s duties and shall not engage in the general practice of law.