McHenry County, IL Public Defender’s Office

The McHenry County Public Defender's Office is located in Woodstock, Illinois. It represents individuals charged with a criminal offense. With one Public Defender and other supporting staff, the office provides competent, effective and ethical legal representation to people unable to afford private counsel in certain kinds of cases where life or liberty issues are at stake. The representation begins only after the accused person requests the appointment of counsel by the court, is shown to be indigent by filing an affidavit of assets and liabilities, and the court, in a written order, directs that person to be represented by the Public Defender's Office. Individuals determined to be eligible for court-appointed counsel do not have the right to choose who their attorney will be. However, they do have the right to have competent legal representation. Public Defenders have an ethical responsibility to work for the best possible resolution of the case for the client. All dealings between a court-appointed attorney and the client are confidential. Attorneys who provide public defense representation are not only subject to the Illinois State Bar's ethical requirements that govern all lawyers but must also meet qualification standards that have been established for public defense representation.