About Us

Since 1965, the Maricopa County Office of the Public Defender has provided innovative and client-centered legal representation to those unable to afford the services of private attorneys. Our attorneys and support staff of over 400 individuals represent more than 35,000 cases each year, and our work reaches even more through our participation in outreach programs, restorative justice work, and community legal education.

We recognize the inherent dignity of each of our clients, and understand that an arrest and criminal charge alone often has devastating impacts on a person’s life. Because of this, our office embraces an integrated defense model that puts our clients’ needs at the center of all we do. When we receive a case our diverse staff of initial services specialists, investigators, law clerks, legal secretaries, mitigation specialists and paralegals work together with our attorneys to ensure our clients receive a zealous and rigorous defense. We also house several specialty areas to better serve clients who may need additional assistance because of the nature of their case or their particular background.