Role, Functions, and Services of the LA County Public Defender

The Public Defender is a law office established and funded by the County of Los Angeles. (Click here to learn the history of the office.) The functions of the office are defined by the county charter and by California state law. The attorneys and other staff employed by the office render legal services to individuals who are accused of public offenses, and who cannot afford to retain the services of a private attorney. We also represent any person under the age of 18 who is facing juvenile delinquency proceedings, or regarding whom the state has instituted wardship proceedings because of habitual truancy or incorrigibility. We represent individuals who are involuntarily detained in medical facilities in a variety of mental health proceedings because of purported mental disabilities, those as to whom conservatorship proceedings have been instituted because they are alleged to be gravely disabled, and patients whose competency to refuse medical treatment is challenged. Finally, we represent individuals who are subject to contempt proceedings for violation of court orders, such as child support and child visitation or custody orders. ( More detail regarding the functions can be found in the frequently asked questions.)

The Public Defender's Office employs over 700 attorneys, 78 investigators, 55 paralegals, 17 psychiatric social workers, and a clerical/secretarial staff of approximately 150. The attorney's role is identical to that of a privately retained attorney. Deputy Public Defenders are all members of the State Bar, and are governed by the same regulations and ethical obligations which pertain to a privately retained attorney.

The attorneys employed by the Public Defender are full time employees who by law cannot maintain private legal practices in addition to their employment by the county government. Their experience levels range from having been newly admitted to practice to many with over 35 years of specialty in criminal practice. Cases are assigned to deputies in accordance with their experience. Thus, complex and serious cases are assigned only to those deputies with considerable experience, and capital cases (those in which the state might seek the death penalty) are assigned only to senior trial attorneys.