Durham County, NC Public Defender’s Office

The Office of the Public Defender for Durham County, Defender District 14, consists of twenty-three Assistant Public Defenders, six legal assistants, two investigators, one social worker, and one interpreter, led by Chief Public Defender. The Office of the Public Defender provides legal representation to indigent individuals charged with criminal allegations ranging from juvenile delinquency to capital murder and matters of abuse, neglect, dependency, and involuntary commitments. Their mission is to preserve society's interest in the fair administration of justice by providing high-quality zealous advocacy to indigent clients using superior legal knowledge, preparation, and trial skills. The right to counsel guaranteed to every American citizen accused of a crime is embodied in the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment. An integral component of the right to counsel is the right to court-appointed counsel for those unable to hire an attorney. For more information on the services of the Durham County Public Defender's Office, please contact them directly.