The Office of the Public Defender was created by City Charter in 1972 pursuant to the mandates of the landmark SupremeCourt cases of Argersinger vs. Hamlin and Gideon v. Wainwright. These cases guarantee the right to counsel to anyone accused of a crime that carries the possibility of imprisonment.
The City of Atlanta Office of the Public Defender provides client-centered holistic legal representation, courtroom advocacy, and the facilitation of social services and restorative measures to improve the lives of individuals we serve. Public Defenders Defend People. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty.(Subsections under who we are)
I. II. III. Social Workers – Social Workers are all Master’s LevelGraduates. Social Workers are part of the Holistic Defense team together withAttorneys, Investigators and Client Advocates. The Social Workers assistclients with any underlying issues that may have led to their contact with the criminaljustice system. Social Workers advocate in court and out of court to helpclients navigate various legal and social service systems. *Pictures of social workers in action.IV. Client Advocates– Client Advocates assist clients before, during, and after the court case. Theywork with the attorneys and social workers to initially assess clients forsocial service needs that mitigate their legal case. Those services includeemployment needs, housing needs, financial literacy, educational resources, andsubstance dependency assistance. Our advocate team also organizes andfacilitates events in the community. * Pictures of client advocates in action.V. Investigators – Investigatorsare an important part of the defense team. Investigators work in the office andaround the city collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses, and assistingclients with any underlying needs. They gather evidence from crime scenes,witnesses, police reports and forensic lab reports.
The Office of the Public Defender represents persons charged with violating city ordinances, traffic offenses, as well as some misdemeanors occurring within the City of Atlanta.
The office is open Monday thru Friday from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM.
Defendants charged with crimes are almost always best served by obtaining a lawyer. In fact, most criminal defendants are represented by a lawyer, especially when jail is a possibility. It is very difficult for a person to competently handle his or her own criminal case. Criminal and traffic cases can result in collateral civil consequences.
You can request a Public Defender by completing an application for appointment of counsel and submitting it to the Court at the earliest opportunity.
Qualification is primarily based on your financial circumstances. A judge will review your completed application to determine whether you are indigent. Upon approval, the court will appoint the Office of the Public Defender to represent you in your legal case.
Please contact the Office of the Public Defender to schedule an appointment for an initial interview. Thereafter, your case will be assigned to a holistic defense team for legal investigation and assessment of social service needs.
Clients that are in-custody at the Atlanta Pretrial Detention Center will have an opportunity to meet with their holistic defense team prior to each court appearance.
Upon proper notice, your appointed attorney can make a request to the court for a continuance on your behalf. The judge assigned to your case will decide whether your request will be granted.
Your appointed attorney can ask the court to provide you with the assistance of an interpreter.
Yes. Please contact the Office of the Public Defender IMMEDIATELY to discuss your options.
If you are convicted of any charge(s) in the City of Atlanta Municipal Court, you may be entitled to an appellate review of your case in a court of higher jurisdiction. As the appellate process requires adherence to strict deadlines, please consult with your assigned attorney immediately after conviction to discuss your legal options.
The Office of the Public Defender utilizes a holistic approach to legal representation by addressing the collateral needs of their clients. Clients are individually assessed by a social service team and referred to community resources for mental health care, substance abuse treatment, education and employment programming, emergency shelter, and permanent supportive housing.
You may contact the Office of the Public Defender at (404) 658-6838.