7. a. The municipal public defender shall represent an indigent defendant charged in municipal court with a crime as specified in N.J.S. 2B:12-18 or, if in the opinion of the municipal court there is a likelihood that the defendant, if convicted, of any other offense will be subject to imprisonment or other consequence of magnitude, the municipal public defender shall represent an indigent defendant.

b. If there is a vacancy in the office of municipal public defender, if the municipal public defender is temporarily unavailable or if a finding of conflict of interest precludes the municipal public defender from representing an indigent defendant, the municipal prosecutor may prosecute the offense if the municipal court appoints a qualified attorney to represent the indigent defendant. Unless rates are otherwise established by the municipality, the attorney shall be entitled to compensation at the same rate as attorneys hired by the Office of the Public Defender in conflict cases, with payment to be made within 30 days. Once appointed, the attorney shall carry out all duties of the municipal public defender in connection with the case that is the subject of the appointment.

L.1997,c.256,s.7.