Help for clients and community

Being treated fairly by the criminal justice system should not be a privilege of the rich. In 1963, the United States Supreme Court in Gideon v. Wainright recognized that the fundamental right to a fair trial requires an indigent person accused of a crime to have the assistance of Counsel.

The judge will appoint a Public Defender only if:

You are an adult and the judge decides that you cannot afford to hire a private attorney; or

You are under age 18. 

You have rights

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probably cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.  Read more for best practices for exercising your rights safely, tips to reduce exposure to suspicion (not legal advice).

What to do within the first 24 hours

Unsure what to do for a loved one that has been arrested? Use this link to find important information that you can use within the first 24 hours after an arrest. Is your loved one in jail? How much is bail? When is the first court appearance? Who do you call if you have concerns about your loved one’s health? Get this information and more by following this link. There are actions you can take before your loved one meets his or her public defender.

Job opportunities

Hennepin County Public Defender's Office job openings   

State of Minnesota Public Defender's Office job openings

View all job openings for the State of Minnesota Public Defender's Office

Summer Law Clerk Program 2024 (PDF, 1MB) 


 

If you're in the criminal justice system and can't afford an attorney, the Public Defender's office can represent you. We help adults and juveniles accused of criminal offenses, and parents and children involved in child protection cases.

How do I apply for a Public Defender?

You will complete an application for a Public Defender at your first appearance in court. If you meet the income guidelines, the judge will appoint a public defender to represent you.

Who is my Public Defender?

The Office of the Public Defender assigns lawyers to every first appearance courtroom. Once the court has found you eligible, your public defender will meet with you to discuss your case.

How do I get to the Public Defender's Office?

If you are meeting with your lawyer for an adult criminal case (felony or Minneapolis misdemeanor) please go to our 14th floor reception area at 701 Fourth Avenue South, Suite 1400, Minneapolis, MN 55415. Our phone number is 612-348-7530.

If you are meeting with your lawyer for a juvenile delinquency or child protection please go to our 10th floor reception area at 701 Fourth Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55415. Our phone number is 612-348-7530.

How do I get to Adult Court?

For adult criminal cases, including suburban misdemeanor charges, all court locations and instructions on how to find a courtroom are available online. Our suburban public defenders have offices located in the suburban courthouses. If you have questions about where to go, please call the Public Defender’s Office 612-348-7530

How do I get to Juvenile Court?

For juvenile court all court locations and instructions on how to find a courtroom are available online. If you are unsure or have questions about your case, please call the Public Defender’s Office 612-348-7530.

When is my next court date?

Minnesota State Court provides online access court calendars. You may search by your name or case number. If you are unsure or have questions about your case, please call the Public Defender’s Office 612-348-7530.

   

Directory

Staff directory
Staff member Phone Job duties
A
Adams, Brooke 612-348-9021 Attorney
Al-Hendi, Jahmeyl 612-348-7067 Attorney
Anderson, Andrea 612-348-4104 Paralegal
Anderson, Brittany 612-348-2001 Investigator
Appleby, Stephanie 612-596-7247 Dispositional Advisor
Austin, MarShonda 612-596-9145 Legal Assistant
Austin, Pamela 612-348-5389 Legal Assistant
B
Bailey, Angela 612-348-8059 Attorney
Baldwin, Laura 612-348-2186 Attorney
Ballard, Sarah Rose 612-348-2056 Attorney
Barbour, Sean 612-348-6613 Information Technology
Barna, Allison 612-348-9099 Dispositional Advisor
Barukzoy, Setara 612-348-6940 Attorney
Batres, Johana 612-543-2411 Legal Assistant
Baskfield, Madeline 612-348-8246 Attorney
Baumann, Joel 612-348-2433 Attorney
Beasley, Jarita 612-348-6985 Legal Assistant
Berger, Michael 612-348-5660 Chief Public Defender
Bergeson, Steve 612-596-1802 Attorney-Trial Team
Bishop, Tanya 612-348-8229 Attorney
Bott, Margaret 612-348-8349 Attorney
Bower, Jessica 612-596-1220 Legal Assistant
Bozian, Gabriel 612-596-6754 Attorney-Supervisor
Brodhag, Amanda 612-348-6419 Attorney
Brooke, Sallie 612-596-9406 Legal Assistant
Bruce, Christy 612-348-8052 Dispositional Advisor
Brummel, Paula 612-596-7668 Attorney
Bryant, Camille 612-596-9147 Attorney
Burns Garcia-Torres, Arroyo 612-543-3582 Legal Assistant
Burton, Shira 612-348-0720 Attorney
Byron, Eve 612-348-8594 Attorney
C
Carpenter, Raissa 612-348-9676 Attorney
Champagne, Christopher 612-348-8012 Attorney
Cima, Kathy 612-596-9346 Attorney
Clemens, Chelsie 612-596-0667 Dispositional Advisor
Clemenson, Rene 612-348-8050 Attorney-Supervisor
Cluck, Deborah 612-596-9279 Legal Assistant
Colbert, Jessica 612-348-8317 Attorney-Supervisor
Cousins, Adrienne 612-543-1577 Attorney-Supervisor
D
Davies, Susan 612-543-3149 Dispositional Advisor
DesLauriers, Kevin 612-348-4122 Attorney
DeSmidt, David 612-543-0764 Attorney
Devaraj, Mark 612-348-2742 Attorney
Domin, Isa 612-543-4770 Attorney
Dong, Jesse 612-348-9884 Attorney-Supervisor
Donnelly, Emmett 612-348-6144 Attorney-Managing
E
Eckholm, Elizabeth 612-348-3996 Attorney
El-Ghazzawy, Basil 612-543-0263 Attorney
F
Fink, Danielle 612-348-2854 Attorney
Fischer, Dick 612-348-8872 Investigator
Forsell Cayard, Maggie 612-543-0962 Attorney
Franklin, Ryan 612-348-6123 Attorney
Fraser, Melissa 612-596-7517 Attorney-Supervisor
G
Gamble, Maja 612-348-8045 Investigator
Gielcowski Yares, Tammy 612-348-6047 Legal Assistant
Giudice, Matthew 612-348-6766 Paralegal
Graves, Nadine 612-596-1981 Attorney- Managing
Gray, Kevin 612-596-7969 Attorney
Grimley, Erin 612-348-9198 Dispositional Advisor
Gross, Hannah 612-348-4820 Dispositional Advisor
Guzman, Chayo 612-596-9366 Office Manager
H
Haley, Abby 612-543-9254 Paralegal- IT
Halimah, Sara 612-348-2148 Attorney
Harmon, Jessie 612-596-8545 Attorney
Harsha, Zayda 612-596-8269 Dispositional Advisor
Hayes, Michelle 612-596-7136 Attorney
Henstein, Olivia 612-348-7110 Paralegal- IT
Herlofsky, Susan 612-348-9881 Attorney
Hicks, Caroline 612-348-8395 Attorney
Hill, Cameron 612-596-7883 Legal Assistant
Hitz, Evelynn 612-348-2983 Paralegal
Hoffman, Gretchen 612-348-9156 Attorney-Supervisor
Hofman, Vanessa 612-543-9849 Attorney
Hogan, Elizabeth 612-596-8510 First Assistant
Holland, Michael 612-348-9946 Attorney
Holden, Meghan 612-348-6373 Attorney
Hormillosa, Michael 612-596-7389 Attorney
Hoppe, Mary 612-348-5265 Legal Assistant
Horvath, JC 612-348-8255 Attorney
Hurt Brady, Ellen 612-348-9968 Attorney
I
Inz, Julia 612-348-6810 Attorney
Irfanullah, Christine 612-596-9407 Attorney
Isaacman, Geoffrey 612-348-7891 First Assistant
J
Jaimet, Matthew 612-596-1797 Attorney
James, Beverly 612-348-2337 Admin Asst-Supervisor
Johnson, Kristin 612-596-7518 Investigator
Johnson, Laura 612-348-8555 Attorney
K
Karp, Elizabeth 612-543-2925 Attorney
Kennon, Shawn 612-348-8174 Attorney
Khan, Atif 612-348-6702 Attorney- Supervisor
Knezel, Owen 612-348-6019 Investigator
Knutson, Chelsea 612-596-7889 Attorney
Kolar, Matthew 612-348-6042 Investigator
Kolstad, Bob 612-543-3475 Attorney
Kosel, Shawna 612-596-8566 Attorney
Kowalski, Kim 612-348-9948 Paralegal
Koziol, Sarah 612-596-7887 Attorney
Kraetzner, Krystal 612-596-1447 Paralegal
Kyle, Juanita 612-348-6680 Attorney
L
Lambrecht, Dean 612-348-5170 Attorney
Landreau, Stefan 612-348-8393 Attorney
Leary, Bryan 612-348-6553 Attorney
Leary, Charlotte 612-348-4960 Legal Assistant
Lockhart, Edith 612-348-0032 Human Resources
Lukac, Allegra 612-543-3104 Attorney
Lund, Chris 612-543-0264 Attorney
M
Mahoney, John 612-348-8021 Attorney
Maravigli, Paul 612-348-0186 Attorney
Marcellus, Madsen 612-596-9347 Attorney-Supervisor
Marks, Krista 612-348-2414 Attorney
Martin, Ben 612-348-6618 Attorney
Martin, Peter 612-348-7113 Attorney
McCormack, Gabriela 612-543-0265 Attorney
McGuire, Katherine 612-348-6658 Dispositional Advisor
McNaughton, Lisa 612-348-4375 Attorney-Managing
McPherson, Patrick 612-348-4396 Investigator
Meyer, Kimberly 612-348-2452 Attorney
Michael, Brad 612-596-9409 Investigator
Miller, Mark 612-543-3074 Attorney
Mills, Victor 612-348-0702 Investigator
Mitchell, LaToya 612-348-8654 Paralegal
Monroe, William 612-348-4846 Attorney
Morant, Andre 612-348-6756 Attorney-Supervisor
Moriarty, Christina 612-348-5061 Attorney
Morris, Jordan 612-596-9411 Attorney
Muhammad, Kymphus 612-596-8362 Investigator
Myhran, Chase 612-348-5852 Attorney
N
Nanez, Yastril 612-596-8617 Attorney
Nikula, Randy 612-543-1646 Dispositional Advisor
Nolen, Julius 612-348-8560 Attorney
Nolen, Laura 612-543-0262 Attorney
Noothed, Rebecca 612-596-8621 Attorney
Novak, Molly 612-596-8587 Attorney
O
O'Bryan, Alayna 612-596-1798 Attorney
O'Connor, Brenna 612-543-1311 Attorney
O'Connor, Leslie 612-596-3215 Attorney
Olson, Aaron 612-348-6092 Attorney
Overby, Michelle 612-596-1811 Attorney
P
Parrott, Anwen 612-348-0384 Attorney
Pasmanter, Eli 612-348-5175 Attorney
Pawlowicz, Jennifer 612-348-7198 Legal Assistant
Peuser, Casey 612-348-4973 Paralegal
Phelps, Rebekah 612-596-8640 Attorney
Perry, Briana 612-596-0790 Attorney
Petersen, Steve 612-596-1803 Investigator
Prahl, Laura 612-543-1633 Attorney-Supervisor
Prentice, Carrie 612-596-7782 Attorney
Probst, Ashley 612-348-9856 Attorney
Q
Quiggle, Brett 612-348-8557 Investigator
R
Reid, Tracy 612-543-3073 Attorney
Reiland, Andrew 612-348-5838 Attorney-Supervisor
Renden, Greg 612-348-5952 Attorney
Reza, Anika 612-543-1576 Attorney
Rothe, Olivia 612-596-7884 Attorney
S
Salgado Diaz, Eduardo 612-596-6567 Attorney
Sargent, Cathy 612-348-8933 Legal Assistant
Sather, Joelle 612-543-0088 Attorney
Schoenborn, Ashley 612-543-3105 Attorney
Scott, Elizabeth 612-348-4370 Attorney
Selman, Butch 612-348-7856 Attorney
Sherman, Darcy 612-348-2429 Attorney
Skrzeczkoski-Bzdusek, Lisa 612-596-1801 Attorney- Supervisor
Smith, Desiree 612-348-4853 Legal Assistant
Sorensen, Alyson 612-596-8657 Attorney
Stoks, Amanda 612-348-8924 Attorney
Sullivan, AC 612-596-9336 Dispositional Advisor
Swiontek, Matthew 612-348-8053 Attorney
T
Tierney, Collin 612-348-6343 Attorney
Tillis, Benita 612-348-9887 Legal Assistant
V
Van Beek, Lindsey 612-348-0378 Attorney
Van Guilder, JoAnne 612-348-0703 Paralegal
Verdoorn, Briana 612-348-2210 Investigator
Vertin, Marecca 612-348-9947 Attorney
Vora, Zeel 612-596-8745 Attorney
W
Wassam, Benjamin 612-596-7779 Attorney
West, Amy 612-596-8313 Dispositional Advisor
Whaley, Jill 612-543-2120 Investigator
Whicher, Angela 612-348-5176 Attorney
Whiting, Freya 612-348-0111 Attorney
Wilkie, Diana 612-348-8292 Dispositional Advisor
Willman, Mariah 612-543-0087 Legal Assistant
Witt, Trevor 612-596-8798 Attorney
Z
Zagorski, Emily 612-348-8264 Paralegal

Contact us

612-348-7530

701 4th Ave. S.
Suite 1400
Minneapolis, MN 55415