Article 2. Other Duties of California Government Code >> Division 2. >> Title 3. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 2.

The district attorney shall render legal services to the county without fee and may render legal services to school districts and to other local public entities as requested. The district attorney may charge a school district or other local public entity a fee, not to exceed the total cost to the county, for the legal services rendered.

The district attorney or county counsel may, with the approval of the county board of supervisors, provide legal services to an association or nonprofit corporation which contracts with a county for the operation of a county fair pursuant to the provisions of Sections 25905 and 25906. Such association or nonprofit corporation shall compensate the county for the services at a rate which is mutually agreeable to both parties.

The district attorney shall defend all suits brought against the state in his or her county or against his or her county wherever brought, and prosecute all recognizances forfeited in the courts of record and, except as provided in Sections 1305 and 1306 of the Penal Code, prosecute all actions for the recovery of debts, fines, penalties, and forfeitures accruing to the state or his or her county.

Upon request of any board of education, board of school trustees, or high school board, the district attorney may prepare all the legal papers and forms necessary for the voting of school bond issues within the county and may advise them in relation to school bond issues. The district attorney may charge a board of education, board of trustees, or high school board a fee not to exceed the total cost to the county for those services.

Upon request of the auditor or treasurer, the district attorney shall defend or prosecute any action brought by or against the auditor or treasurer for the purpose of testing the validity or constitutionality of any act of the Legislature or of the board of supervisors or of any order providing for the payment of any funds held in the county treasury in those cases only where the interest of the county is not adverse.

Upon request of any judge of the superior or municipal court, the district attorney shall appear for and represent the court or judge if the court or judge in his or her official capacity is a party defendant in any action.

If the board of supervisors without authority of law orders any amount paid as salary, fees, or for any other purposes and the money is actually paid, or if any county officer draws any warrant in his own favor or in favor of any other person without authorization by the board or law and the warrant is paid, the district attorney shall institute suit in the name of the county to recover the money paid, and 20 percent damages for the use thereof. If the money has not been paid on the order or warrants, the district attorney upon receiving notice thereof shall commence suit in the name of the county to restrain the payment. An order of the board is not necessary in order to maintain the suits.

The county counsel, or if none the district attorney, is the legal adviser of the board of supervisors. The county counsel or if none, the district attorney, shall attend its meetings, when required, and shall attend and oppose all claims and accounts against the county he or she deems unjust and illegal.

The district attorney except for his own services shall not present any claim, account, or demand for allowance against the county nor in any way advocate the relief asked or any claim or demand made by another.

The district attorney may, and when directed by the board of supervisors shall, bring a civil action in the name of the people of the State of California to abate a public nuisance in his county.

The board of supervisors of any county may authorize the county counsel in lieu of the district attorney to file the petition to remove or destroy neglected or abandoned plants or crops under Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 5551) of Part 1 of Division 4 of the Food and Agricultural Code.

(a) In counties that have a county counsel, the county counsel shall discharge all the duties vested in the district attorney by Sections 26520, 26522, 26523, 26524, and 26526. The county counsel shall defend or prosecute all civil actions and proceedings in which the county or any of its officers is concerned or is a party in his or her official capacity. Except where the county provides other counsel, the county counsel shall defend as provided in Part 7 (commencing with Section 995) of Division 3.6 of Title 1 of the Government Code any action or proceeding brought against an officer, employee, or servant of the county.
  (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the County Counsel of the County of Solano may, and when directed by the board of supervisors of that county shall, bring a civil action when the county, or any of its officers, has a cause of action to abate a public nuisance in the county. The County Counsel and the District Attorney of Solano County have the concurrent right to bring an action to abate a public nuisance pursuant to this subdivision.

Unless otherwise designated by the board of supervisors pursuant to Section 5114 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the district attorney shall represent the county in proceedings under Part 1 (commencing with Section 5000) of Division 5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.