What is FPDA?

The Florida Public Defender Association (FPDA) is a nonprofit corporation whose members include 19 elected Public Defenders and nearly 2000 employees of public defender offices throughout Florida. The association exists to assist the Public Defenders to fulfill their constitutional duty to ensure equal justice for all.

The FPDA does not employ Assistant Public Defenders or Public Defenders. They are employed by the State of Florida. The Florida Public Defender Association does not provide legal representation or advice to individuals to answer legal questions. For legal advice or assistance on any open legal matters in which the Public Defender was appointed to represent you, you should inquire further with that Public Defender’s Office.

In addition, the FPDA does not supervise or manage individual Public Defender’s Offices. As a Constitutional Officer, each elected Public Defender decides how to operate the Circuit offices. If you have concerns or questions about how you are being represented, please contact the appropriate Public Defender.

Our mission is to advocate for an equitable justice system through education/training provided statewide to attorneys and at a legislative level.

NOTE: No Public Defenders work from this office. If you need information or have questions about a particular case, please contact the appropriate Office of the Public Defender from the list below.

Florida Public Defenders

Hon. Bruce Miller
Public Defender,1st Circuit

Escambia, Okaloosa,
Santa Rosa, Walton

Hon. Jessica Yeary

Hon. Jessica Yeary
Public Defender, 2nd Circuit

Franklin, Gadsden,
Jefferson, Leon, Liberty
,
Wakulla

Hon. Cliff Wilson

Hon. Cliff Wilson
Public Defender, 3rd Circuit

Columbia, Dixie, Hamilton,
Lafayette, Madison,
Suwanee, Taylor

Hon. Charles Cofer

Hon. Charlie Cofer
Public Defender, 4th Circuit

Clay, Duval, Nassau

Hon. Mike Graves

Hon. Mike Graves
Public Defender, 5th Circuit

Citrus, Hernando, Lake,
Marion, Sumter

Hon. Sara Mollo

Hon. Sara Mollo
Public Defender, 6th Circuit

Pasco, Pinellas

Hon. Matt Metz

Hon. Matthew Metz
Public Defender, 7th Circuit

Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns,
Volusia

Hon. Stacy Scott

Hon. Stacy Scott
Public Defender, 8th Circuit

Alachua, Baker, Bradford,
Gilchrist, Levy, Union

Hon. Rex Dimmig

Hon. Rex Dimmig
Public Defender, 10th Circuit

Hardee, Higlands, Polk

Hon. Carlos Martinez

Hon. Carlos Martinez
Public Defender, 11th Circuit

Miami-Dade

Hon. Larry Eger

Hon. Larry Eger
Public Defender, 12th Circuit

DeSoto, Manatee, Sarasota

Hon. Julie Holt

Hon. Julie Holt
Public Defender, 13th Circuit

Hillsborough

 Hon. Mark Sims

Hon. Mark Sims
Public Defender, 14th Circuit

Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes,
Jackson, Washington

Hon. Carey Haughwout

Hon. Carey Haughwout
Public Defender, 15th Circuit

Palm Beach

 Hon. Robert Lockwood

Hon. Robert Lockwood
Public Defender, 16th Circuit

Monroe

 Hon. Gordon Weekes

Hon. Gordon Weekes
Public Defender, 17th Circuit

Broward

 Hon. Blaise Trettis

Hon. Blaise Trettis
Public Defender, 18th Circuit

Brevard, Seminole

 Hon. Diamond Litty

Hon. Diamond Litty
Public Defender, 19th Circuit

Indian River, Martin,
St. Lucie, Okeechobee

Hon. Kathy Smith 

Hon. Kathy Smith
Public Defender, 20th Circuit

Charlotte, Collier, Glades,
Hendry, Lee