Sec. 213. County Attorney.

The County Executive shall appoint a County Attorney, subject to confirmation by the Council. The County Attorney shall be the chief legal officer of the County, conduct all the law business of the County, be a legal advisor to the Council, and be the legal advisor to the County Executive, all departments, and other instrumentalities of the County Government. The County Attorney shall represent the County in all actions in which the County is a party. The County Attorney and the staff of the office shall engage in no other law practice. The County Attorney may, with the approval of the Council, temporarily employ special legal counsel to work on problems of an extraordinary nature when the work to be done is of such character or magnitude as to require services in addition to those regularly provided by the County Attorney.

The County Attorney shall serve at the pleasure of the County Executive and the Council. If the County Executive removes the County Attorney, the Council must approve or disapprove the removal by an affirmative vote of six Councilmembers within 30 days of receiving notice of the removal. The County Executive must provide notice of the removal to the County Council within 3 days. If the Council does not act within 30 days, the County Attorney must not be removed. The County Attorney may also be removed by an affirmative vote of seven Councilmembers, with the consent of the County Executive. The County Council must provide notice of the removal to the County Executive within 3 days. The County Executive must approve or disapprove the removal within 15 days of receiving notice of the removal. If the County Executive does not act within 15 days, the County Attorney must not be removed. During the period of time before removal is confirmed, the County Attorney must be put on paid leave. (Election of 11-2-82; election of 11-6-84; election of 11-8-22.)