About

Welcome to the Public Defender's Office

Every person who is accused of committing a crime has a constitutional right to the effective assistance of counsel. Effective assistance includes a complete investigation of all relevant facts, a thorough research of all legal issues, and the use of expert witnesses in appropriate cases.

The Monterey County Public Defender’s Office was established more than forty years ago to furnish quality legal representation to indigent people charged with committing crimes in Monterey County, ranging from the simplest misdemeanor to complex capital cases.

Some of Monterey County’s finest attorneys and judges have worked here, and the Office has handled many of the County’s most significant cases. Today, more than fifty people, assisted by a state-of-the-art computer system and on-line legal research, proudly continue the tradition.

The guiding principle of the Office is that each client is entitled to the best outcome legally attainable. Our attorneys, investigators, and support staff take great pride in providing a consistently high level of service. This aggressive and zealous defense is provided to all regardless of charge, circumstance, or public passion.

The Monterey County Public Defender’s Office is dedicated to ensuring that the constitutional right to counsel is not simply an empty promise. It is a continuing reality in the courts of Monterey County.