Our Mission

To provide comprehensive legal representation services in criminal, juvenile and custody proceedings to indigent persons in Franklin County so as to fulfill the constitutional mandate of equal justice under the law.

WHAT WE DO

The Franklin County Public Defender office is comprised of Municipal, Juvenile, Common Pleas, and Appellate departments.  As one of the largest legal services offices in the state of Ohio, each department is staffed with attorneys, social workers, law clerks, and secretaries dedicated to ensuring high quality legal services. There are 91 attorneys, 12 social workers, and adjunct support staff totaling 120 full-time and 40 part-time employees.

Responsibilities

The Franklin County Public Defender's Office provide comprehensive legal representation services in criminal, juvenile, and custody proceedings to indigent persons in Franklin County Ohio, misdemeanor criminal matters and does not handle civil matters associated with these criminal matters, such as Department of Licensing Administrative Hearings and traffic infractions.

Eligibility

To be eligible for representation by the Franklin County Public Defender office all applicants must be financially screened and found to meet State Public Defender Eligibility Guidelines.  

Please contact us for more information.