Kanawha County Public Defender’s Office, WV

The Kanawha County Public Defender's Office in the 13th Judicial Circuit is located in Charleston, West Virginia. With a team of one chief public defender, two deputy chief public defenders, nine deputy public defenders, 11 assistant public defenders, and other legal staff, this office provides legal representation to adults and juveniles accused of a crime who cannot afford to pay for a lawyer in Kanawha County. The Public Defender Services (PDS) administers the Kanawha County Public Defender's Office. Public Defender Services pays for the representation of indigent parties in abuse and neglect, mental hygiene, and juvenile proceedings. Public Defender Services does not provide representation from this office except in a limited number of appellate matters. Instead, they provide representation by two methods private attorneys on a court-appointed basis and full-time public defenders at public defender corporations. In addition to the resources and services available from Public Defender Services' Appellate Advocacy Division, the following resources are available to attorneys and staff members of the Public Defender Corporations (PDCs): ​​​​mitigation and alternative sentencing resources, juvenile resources, and administrative, personnel, and technology consultation. Please contact them directly for more information on Kanawha County Public Defender's Office.