Find Your Public DefenderPublic defense services across California's 58 counties Everyone in California accused of a crime has the right to an attorney, regardless of their ability to pay. In each of the state's 58 counties, that right is protected by public defender offices and by attorneys who contract with counties to provide defense services. Use the map or search bar below to find the office serving your county, along with its address, phone number, and website. Map key Browse all 58 countiesPrefer a list? Choose any county below. What these terms meanCalifornia counties provide public defense in different ways. Here is what each term on this page means. Public Defender OfficeA county government office with its own staff of attorneys. It represents people who are charged with a crime and cannot afford to hire a lawyer. Contract FirmSome counties do not run their own public defender office. Instead, they pay a private law firm or a group of attorneys to represent everyone who needs a court-appointed lawyer. Managed Assigned Counsel (MAC)A program that oversees a group of private attorneys and assigns them to cases, instead of a single county office. Conflict PanelSometimes the public defender cannot take a case, for example when it already represents another person charged in the same case. The court then appoints a private attorney from an approved list called a conflict panel. Some counties also have an alternate public defender office, a second county office that takes these cases first. Office information is updated periodically. If you notice anything that needs correcting, please let CPDA know. |
