The San Diego County Alternate Public Defender's Office of Assigned Counsel is located in San Diego, California. The San Diego County Office of Assigned Counsel (OAC) was established, as an independent and ethically separate division of the Department of the Public Defender. The mission of the Assigned Counsel office is to protect the rights, liberties, and dignity of all persons in San Diego County and maintain the integrity and fairness of the American Justice System by arranging for the finest legal representation in the cases entrusted to us for assignment to private counsel. OAC arranges for high-quality legal representation on behalf of individuals charged with a crime in state court who are entitled by law to court-appointed attorney services but who cannot be represented by the Public Defender or Alternate Public Defender due to conflict of interest or other issues. In a conflict of interest and other similar situations, OAC also assigns attorneys to represent individuals who may not be charged with a crime but who are otherwise entitled by law to court-appointed legal services. OAC provides these legal services by assigning the cases it receives to well-qualified attorneys engaged in private law practice. For more information on their services, please contact the Office of Assigned Counsel directly.