Each municipal court in this State shall have at least one municipal public defender appointed by the governing body of the municipality in accordance with applicable laws, ordinances and resolutions. Any municipal court with two or more municipal public defenders shall have a "chief municipal public defender" who shall be appointed by the governing body of the municipality. The chief municipal public defender of a joint municipal court shall be appointed upon the concurrence of the governing bodies of each municipality. The chief municipal public defender shall have authority over other municipal public defenders serving that court with respect to the performance of their duties.
N.J.S. § 2B:24-3