Public Defender

In the landmark case, Gideon v. Wainwright, 371 U.S. 335 (1963), the U. S. Supreme Court required that states provide attorneys to indigent defendants accused of a crime. The Dallas County Public Defender’s Office has been providing effective legal representation to those who cannot afford a private attorney since 1983. It is the largest public defender office of its kind in the entire state of Texas.

Our mission is to ensure that all our clients receive quality legal representation in the most effective and efficient manner. The office is comprised of felony, misdemeanor, juvenile, CPS, family, mental health, DNA, appellate and capital murder defense attorneys, who are assigned to thirty-six courts in four different buildings. Our attorneys also staff and represent defendants who participate in each of the specialty and diversion courts in Dallas County.

As guardians of the presumption of innocence, it is our duty to protect and defend our clients and uphold the Constitutions of the United States and the great state of Texas. In the unsullied words of Governor Roy Barnes, “The law should be a shield for the weak and powerless, not a club for the powerful.”

We are committed to making sure that justice prevails. I invite you to explore our website and if you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact our office.