Chatham County, GA Public Defender’s Office

The Eastern Judicial Circuit Public Defender's Office is located in Savannah and serves the criminal defendants in Chatham County. The Office of the Public Defender represents people accused of felony crimes. The Public Defender ensures that every accused citizen, regardless of financial resources, receives zealous and effective representation as mandated by the United States and Georgia Constitutions. Applicants must complete and sign an application and verification. To qualify, applicants are interviewed at the Detention Center or the Public Defender's Office. An individual must apply for a public defender by completing a detailed financial statement and agreeing to provide documentation concerning income, assets and debts for the person and the person's spouse, if any. This information generally is provided to a court employee who reviews the financial information and makes a recommendation to the judge whether or not the person is eligible for government-paid counsel. For information about who qualifies for representation by the Public Defender's Office and how and when you can apply, please visit their website.