Minnehaha County, SD Public Advocate Office

The Minnehaha County Public Advocate's Office is located in Sioux Falls, SD. Minnehaha County has established the Office of the Public Advocate to provide representation for defendants whom the Public Defender cannot represent. This may occur when the Public Defender's Office already represents another defendant accused in the same case, or the defendant happens to be a witness against another public defender client in a separate case. This is called a "conflict of interest." The Office of the Public Advocate is organized under South Dakota law (SDCL 7-16A) to provide legal representation to indigents and other qualified persons entitled to court-appointed attorneys under the state and federal constitutions and statutes. Attorneys who work for the Public Advocate are not the Public Defender's office employees. When the Public Advocate and the Public Defender cannot represent a client because of a conflict of interest, the court then appoints a private attorney based on a list of attorneys who have indicated a desire to take court appointments. For further information about Minnehaha County Public Advocate's Office, please contact them using the information provided on this page.