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1. What does the Public Defender's Office do? Who established it?

The Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office represents people charged with criminal acts and those facing mental health commitments. The Office was established by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors as authorized by A.R.S. §11-581. (Public Defender Enabling Act).

2. What is a Public Defender?

A public defender is an attorney who represents people charged with criminal offenses or mental health clients who are held involuntarily and who cannot afford to hire a private attorney.

Like any other attorney, a public defender has graduated from an ABA accredited law school, has passed the Arizona bar exam, and has a license to practice law.

Public defenders are trained carefully through our office’s training program and are required to complete continuing legal education classes each year. In addition, they attend local and national conferences to keep themselves current in the law and to sharpen their trial skills.

3. How do I get a Public Defender?

Before a public defender can represent an individual, the court must determine that the person cannot afford to hire an attorney. Once that determination is made, the court must appoint a public defender to the case.

If a conflict of interest exists that prevents the Public Defender’s Office from representing you or if the Office has reached its maximum caseload, the court may appoint the Legal Defender’s Office, the Office of the Legal Advocate, or an attorney from the Office of Public Defense Services to represent you.

4. How can I best assist my attorney once I have one?

It takes time, sometimes several months, for a case to move through the courts. During that time, you can do many things to assist your attorney in working on your case. These include:
- Be on time for court and other legal appointments. If you are delayed for any reason, call your attorney.
- Do not discuss your case with anyone other than your attorney or our office staff. Since anything you say may be used against you in trial, you should not discuss the case with family members, friends, other inmates, detention officers, probation officers, in person or on the telephone.
- Dress appropriately for court.
- Give your attorney copies of all relevant documents.
- Give your attorney a list of possible witnesses.
- Maintain regular contact with your attorney.
- Provide current contact information. Give your attorney your home and work addresses, your home, work, mobile, and message phone numbers, and let your attorney know immediately if any of these change.
- Remember that all personal telephone calls made from the jail may be recorded.

5. What decisions do I make for my case?

The client always gets to decide:
- Whether to go to trial or to take a plea agreement
- Whether or not to testify
- Whether or not to appeal after being convicted at trial

The lawyer is responsible for making strategic decisions, such as:
- Which motions to file
- Whether to object in court
- Which witnesses to call

6. How and when can I contact the Office of the Public Defender?

Our office is open Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., except on holidays.

To contact the office by mail, send letters to:
Office of the Public Defender
620 West Jackson Street
Suite 4015
Phoenix, AZ 85003

To reach the office by phone, call 602-506-7711.

7. Why do I have to be careful about who I talk to, and what I discuss with them?

Please remember that anything you say to the police, to family members or to others could be used against you in court. Therefore, do not discuss your case with anyone except your attorney or our office staff.

Always remember that you and your attorney are partners working for the best possible result for you. If you would like the attorney to discuss your case with family members, you must give the attorney permission to speak with them.