(1) Whenever a vacancy arises in the position of district public defender, it shall be the duty of the district magistrates commission to recruit applicants, review candidates, and hire a district public defender who meets the qualifications established in this chapter. The office of the state public defender may assist the district magistrates commission in drawing the largest pool of qualified applicants.
(2)  In addition to the provisions of sections 1-2203, 1-2203A, 1-2203B, 1-2204, and 1-2205, Idaho Code, when a district magistrates commission is carrying out the purposes of this section:
(a)  The administrative district judge or district judge designated by the administrative district judge shall not participate in any proceedings of the district magistrates commission pursuant to the provisions of this section. The county commissioner on the district magistrates commission from the county that operated an office of public defender by January 1, 2023, shall chair the district magistrates commission. If there is more than one (1) county in the judicial district that operated an office of public defender or that was part of a joint office of public defender by January 1, 2023, the county commissioner on the district magistrates commission from such a county with the longest continuous service as county commissioner shall chair the district magistrates commission. If no county in the judicial district operated an office of public defender or was part of a joint office of public defender by January 1, 2023, the county commissioner on the district magistrates commission with the longest continuous service as county commissioner shall chair the district magistrates commission.
(b)  The state public defender shall appoint two (2) attorneys who practice in the judicial district and whose practice as certified by each attorney at the time of his appointment is predominantly criminal defense, one (1) of whom must be a defending attorney employed or contracted by an indigent defense provider, to temporarily serve on the district magistrates commission; provided, however, the provision of section 1-2203B(4), Idaho Code, regarding current or former law partners shall apply to any attorney appointed by the state public defender.
(c)  No person employed as a criminal prosecutor or who otherwise prosecutes or aids in the prosecution of criminal cases may participate on the district magistrates commission, nor shall any person employed in a law enforcement agency participate on the district magistrates commission. A temporary vacancy, pursuant to section 1-2203B, Idaho Code, shall occur for any commission member prohibited from participating by this paragraph.