Monroe County, NY Public Defender’s Office

The Monroe County Public Defender's Office is located in Rochester, NY. With Public Defenders, staff attorneys, and support staff, this office provides legal representation to individuals in criminal court and family court proceedings who cannot afford to hire an attorney, also known as indigent individuals. The Public Defenders represent defendants in criminal proceedings in town, village, city, county, supreme and appellate Court. They also represent indigent litigants in Family Court on cases involving custody, visitation, family offenses, abuse, neglect, paternity and allegations of willful violations of court orders. The Public Defender's Office is a branch of the Monroe County Government that was founded to fulfill the constitutional obligation of each county in New York State to provide indigent legal defense. This office strives to engage in practices that ensure diversity, equity, inclusion and antiracism. Guided by the requirements of the constitutions of the United States and of New York and the New York rules of legal ethics, the attorneys and staff of this office strive to ensure that each client receives high quality and zealous representation. The Monroe County Public Defender's Office has focused on a client-centered representation model throughout its history. For further assistance, you should first contact the Monroe County Public Defender's Office.