Pursuant to Section 19.1-32.2 of the Code of Virginia, of 1950, as amended, the Public Defender Commission takes pleasure in submitting its second report on its operations, experience, and evaluations of its pilot programs. The initial report of the Commission, submitted in November, 1974 contains the background history of the establishment of full-time defender offices, experiences in other states, and previous findings and recommendations.

The Commission is especially pleased to report that the third Public Defender Office, as required by the legislation enacted in 1972, was established on March 1, 1976, in the City of Roanoke.

Sincere appreciation is expressed to the members of the General Assembly, the Attorney General, the Division of Justice and Crime Prevention, the Judiciary, and the Virginia Bar for the interest and support afforded the pilot Defender projects. In particular, the, Commission gratefully acknowledges the assistance of N. Samuel Clifton, Executive Director of the Virginia State Bar, and his staff; Phillip L. Sadler, Esquire, President, Virginia State Bar; James R. McKenry, Esquire, Chairman, Board of Governors, Criminal Law Section, Virginia State Bar; Honorable Reno s. Harp, III, Deputy Attorney General; Stuart Spirn, Esquire, Court Systems Specialist, Division of Justice and Crime Prevention; and Public Defenders William E. Bobbitt, Jr., Esquire, Peter T. Legler, Esquire, and David D. Walker, Esquire.