Mississippi Code Title 25. Public Officers and Employees; Public Records § 25-32-3

(1) When the office of public defender is established, the circuit judge or the senior circuit judge, if there be more than one (1) circuit judge, shall appoint a practicing attorney to serve the county or counties as public defender until the end of the term of office of the district attorney and thereafter for a term of four (4) years and said term shall coincide with the term of the district attorney. Such appointee shall be selected from a list of two (2) or more attorneys recommended by the county or regional bar association. In the event a vacancy shall occur in the office of the public defender, the circuit judge or the senior circuit judge, if there be more than one (1) circuit judge, shall appoint another person to serve as public defender until the end of the regular term of office.

(2) Assistant public defenders may be authorized by the board of supervisors, or boards of supervisors if two (2) or more counties are acting jointly. The public defender shall appoint all assistant public defenders. Such assistant public defenders may be compensated in such an amount as may be authorized by the respective board of supervisors; provided, however, that in no case may such assistant public defenders receive compensation in an amount greater than that received by the public defender.