§ 14-43-314 — City attorney in mayor-council cities of 50,000 or more

(a) (1) The city attorney in any city of this state having a mayor-council form of government and having a population of fifty thousand (50,000) or more inhabitants shall be elected by the qualified electors of the city in the same manner as other municipal officials are elected. (2) At the November 1978 general election and each four (4) years thereafter, the qualified electors of each city under this section shall elect a city attorney to take office on the next following January 1 to serve for a term of four (4) years. (b) Any person elected as city attorney under the provisions of this section shall perform such duties, possess such qualifications, employ such staff, and be paid such salary and expenses as may be established by ordinance by the city council of the city. (c) (1) If no attorney residing in the city is elected as city attorney, the city council may select a resident attorney to fill the office for the remainder of the unfilled term. (2) (A) If no resident attorney of the city is willing to serve as city attorney or if no attorney resides within the limits of the city, the mayor and city council may contract with any licensed attorney of this state or the attorney's firm to serve as legal advisor, counselor, or prosecutor until a qualified city attorney is elected or appointed. (B) The duties of a nonresident attorney under contract shall be prescribed by ordinance.

Legislative History

Acts 1969, No. 154, §§ 1, 3; 1977, No. 171, §§ 1, 4; 1979, No. 1002, § 1; A.S.A. 1947, §§ 19-1015.3, 19-1015.5, 19-1015.7; Acts 1993, No. 1121, § 1; 2003, No. 1361, § 1.