The Orange County Public Defender's Office provides legal representation to those unable to afford a lawyer in criminal, juvenile, mental health and dependency cases. The Orange County Public Defender safeguards the Constitutional rights of all by providing high-quality, cost-effective legal services to the indigent of Orange County. It is their goal to provide helpful information about their office for clients and the public on this website. In most cases deputy public defenders are appointed by the court. If you are charged with a crime and cannot afford to hire an attorney, ask the court to appoint a public defender at your first appearance before a judge. You may be asked to submit a financial declaration to determine eligibility. Generally, the person seeking Public Defender's representation must be indigent. This means that they are without the resources to hire their own attorney. The Orange County Public Defenders represent people charged with felony or misdemeanor crimes and violations of probation and/or parole supervision. They represent children who have cases in Juvenile Delinquency Court, and parents with cases in the Juvenile Dependency Court when the court may consider taking custody of the children due to issues in the home. Furthermore, they also represent people who are being involuntarily detained due to alleged mental illness or who need a guardian to care for them. They do not generally represent people charged with minor infractions, such as traffic tickets.