The Office of Tompkins County, Assigned Counsel, is located in Center Ithaca in Ithaca, NY. This office receives and reviews all applications for free attorney services and determines eligibility. Financial eligibility levels include automatic eligibility for public assistance, poverty level, and inability to afford counsel. Attorneys are provided for charges including violations, misdemeanors, felonies, appeals in criminal court and most matters in family court. For eligibility, an individual must apply for a public defender by completing a detailed Application Affidavit and agreeing to provide documentation concerning income, assets and debts for the person and the person’s spouse, if any. This information is generally provided to a court employee who reviews the financial information and recommends to the judge whether or not the person is eligible for government-paid counsel. 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. If you wish to have more information, please contact the Tompkins County Assigned Counsel by accessing the contact information listed here.