Founded in 1974, The Florida Public Defender Association, Inc. and the Florida Public Defenders Coordination Office has been proudly providing training, support, and services to the Public Defenders, Assistant Public Defenders, Investigators, Administrators, and support staff of the state of Florida.
The Florida Public Defender Association, Inc., employs no attorneys and therefore cannot provide any legal advice or assistance. If you have a question or in need of legal assistance on a criminal matter, you may want to contact your local Office of the Public Defender. The FPDA does not provide any post-release functions.
Florida Public Defenders are not authorized to offer legal representation on civil cases such as divorce, probates, wills, or landlord tenant disputes.
Mission Statement
The Public Defender protects the constitutional and statutory rights of all citizens through the effective criminal legal representation of court appointed clients.
Florida Public Defender
For each judicial circuit, there shall be a Public Defender who shall be and shall have been for the preceding 5 years, a member in good standing of The Florida Bar. The Public Defender shall be elected at the general election, for a term of 4 years, by the qualified electors of the judicial circuit. The Public Defender shall be an elector of the state and shall reside within the territorial jurisdiction of the judicial circuit in which he or she serves. – Florida Statute 27.50
There is a public defender for each of the 20 judicial circuits in the State of Florida. The 20 circuits include a total of 67 counties throughout the state.
If you have a specific case related question please contact your Public Defender office directly. To find the name and address of each Public Defender click here.
Florida Public Defender Association , Inc
Board of Directors :
President – Hon. Julianne Holt, 13th Circuit
President-Elect -
Vice President – Hon. Bob Dillinger, 6th Circuit
Treasurer – Hon. James Purdy, 7th Circuit
Secretary – Hon. Larry Eger, 12th Circuit