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

 

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 member Phone Job duties
A
Adams, Brooke 612-614-0719 Attorney
Al-Hendi, Jahmeyl 612-614-0720 Attorney
Anderson, Andrea 612-614-0721 Paralegal
Anderson, Brittany 612-614-0722 Investigator
Appleby, Stephanie 612-614-0723 Dispositional Advisor
Arneson, Wyatt 612-746-1188 Attorney- Contract 
Ascheman, Landon Attorney- Contract
Austin, MarShonda 612-614-0724 Legal Assistant
Austin, Pamela 612-614-0725 Legal Assistant
B
Baier, Kaitlyn 612-614-0726 Legal Assistant
Baldwin, Laura 612-614-0727 Attorney
Ballard, Sarah Rose 612-614-0728 Attorney
Barron, Virginia  Attorney- Contract
Barukzoy, Setara 612-614-0730 Attorney
Basiri, Zahra 612-614-0731 Attorney 
Baskfield, Madeline 612-614-0732 Attorney
Batres, Johana 612-614-0733 Legal Assistant
Beasley, Jarita 612-614-0734 Legal Assistant
Berger, Michael 612-614-0800 Chief Public Defender
Bergeson, Steve 612-614-0736 Attorney-Trial Team
Bishop, Tanya 612-614-0737 Attorney
Bott, Maggie 612-614-0738 Attorney
Bozian, Gabriel 612-614-0739 Managing Attorney
Brady-Hurt, Ellen 612-614-0740 Attorney
Brisbois, Jill  651-235-2238  Attorney- Contract 
Brodhag, Amanda 612-614-0741 Attorney
Brooke, Sallie 612-614-0742 Legal Assistant
Bruce, Christy 612-614-0743 Dispositional Advisor
Bryant, Camille 612-614-0744 Attorney
Burton, Shira 612-614-0745 Attorney
Byron, Eve 612-614-0746 Attorney
C
Carpenter, Raissa 612-614-0748 Attorney
Chadwick, Allison 612-614-0749  Attorney
Champagne, Christopher 612-614-0750 Attorney
Cima, Kathy 612-614-0751 Attorney
Clemens, Chelsie 612-614-0752 Dispositional Advisor
Cluck, Deborah 612-614-0753 Legal Assistant
Colbert, Jessica 612-614-0754 Managing Attorney
Colich, Michael 612-333-7007 Attorney- Contract 
Cousins, Adrienne 612-614-0755 Managing Attorney
D
Davis, Dianna 612-614-0756 Legal Assistant 
De La Cancela, Elena 612-614-0757 Law Clerk 
DesLauriers, Kevin 612-614-0759
Attorney
DeSmidt, David 612-614-0760 Attorney
Devaraj, Mark 612-614-0761 Attorney
Domin, Isa 612-614-0762 Attorney
Dong, Jesse 612-614-0763 Managing Attorney
Donnelly, Emmett 612-614-0764 Managing Attorney
Duquin, Olivia 612-614-0765 Attorney 
E
Eckholm, Elizabeth 612-614-0766 Attorney
El-Ghazzawy, Basil 612-614-0767 Attorney
Espinal Quiroz, Leticia 612-614-0768 Legal Assistant
F
Fate, Jacob 612-614-0769 Law Clerk
Fink, Danielle  612-614-0770  Attorney 
Fischer, Dick 612-614-0771 Investigator
Forsell Cayard, Maggie 612-614-0772 Attorney
Fox, Alex 612-614-0773 Law Clerk 
Frame, Holly   651-361-9830  Attorney- Part Time 
Fraser, Melissa 612-614-0774 Managing Attorney
G
Gaborsky, Kelli
Attorney- Contract
Gamble, Maja  612-614-0775  Investigator 
Gielcowski, Tammy 612-614-0776 Legal Assistant
Giudice, Matthew 612-614-0777 Paralegal
Glenn, Eddie 612-614-0778  Attorney
Graves, Nadine 612-614-0779 Managing Attorney
Gray, David  Attorney- Contract 
Gray, Kevin 612-614-0780 Attorney
Grimley, Erin 612-614-0781 Dispositional Advisor
Gross, Hannah 612-614-0782 Dispositional Advisor
H
Haley, Abby 612-614-0783 Paralegal
Halimah, Sara 612-614-0784 Attorney
Harmon, Jessie 612-614-0785 Attorney
Harsha, Zayda 612-614-0786 Dispositional Advisor
Hayes, Michelle 612-614-0787 Attorney
Hendrickson, Hannah 612-614-0788 Law Clerk 
Henstein, Olivia 612-614-0789 Paralegal
Herlofsky, Susan 612-614-0790 Attorney
Herrmann, Sophie  612-614-0791  Law Clerk 
Hicks, Caroline 612-614-0792 Attorney
Hill, Cameron 612-614-0793 Legal Assistant
Hitz, Evelynn 612-614-0794 Paralegal
Hoffman, Gretchen 612-614-0795 Managing Attorney
Hogan, Elizabeth 612-614-0796 First Assistant
Holden, Meghan 612-614-0797 Attorney
Hoppe, Mary  612-614-0798  Legal Assistant
Hormillosa, Michael 612-614-0799 Attorney
Horvath, JC 612-614-0735 Attorney
I
Inz, Julia 612-614-0801 Attorney
Irfanullah, Christine 612-614-0802 Attorney
Isaacman, Geoffrey 612-614-0803 First Assistant
J
Jaimet, Matthew 612-614-0804 Attorney
James, Beverly 612-614-0805 Admin Asst-Supervisor
Johnson, Amanda Attorney- Contract
Johnson, Laura 612-614-0806 Attorney
K
Karp, Elizabeth 612-614-0807 Attorney
Kelley, Ava  612-614-0808  Attorney 
Kennon, Shawn 612-614-0809 Attorney
Khan, Atif 612-614-0810 Managing Attorney
Knezel, Owen 612-614-0811 Investigator
Knutson, Chelsea 612-614-0812 Attorney
Kolar, Matthew 612-614-0813
Investigator
Kolstad, Bob 612-614-0814 Attorney
Kosel, Shawna 612-614-0815 Attorney
Kowalski, Kim 612-614-0816 Paralegal
Koziol, Sarah 612-614-0817 Attorney
Kraetzner, Krystal 612-614-0818 Paralegal
Kyle, Juanita 612-614-0819 Attorney
L
Lambrecht, Dean 612-614-0820 Attorney
Landreau, Stefan 612-614-0821 Attorney
Leary, Bryan 612-614-0822
Attorney
Leary, Charlotte 612-614-0823 Legal Assistant
Lewis, Ashley 612-614-0824 Attorney
Lindenfelser, Alexander  612-614-0825 Law Clerk 
Lockhart, Edith 612-614-0826 Human Resources
Lukac, Allegra 612-614-0827 Attorney
Lund, Chris 612-614-0828 Attorney
Lurie, Dana  612-614-0829  Attorney 
M
MacMillen, Peter
Attorney- Contract
Mahoney, John 612-614-0830 Attorney 
Maravigli, Paul 612-614-0832 Attorney
Martin, Ben 612-614-0833 Attorney
Martin, Peter 612-348-7113 Attorney- Part-Time
McCormack, Gabriela 612-614-0834 Attorney
McGuire, Katherine 612-614-0835 Dispositional Advisor
McNaughton, Lisa 612-614-0836 Managing Attorney
McPherson, Patrick 612-614-0837 Investigator
McQuitty, Karmen  612-799-1639  Attorney- Part Time 
Metzger, Drake  612-614-0838  Managing Attorney 
Meyer, Kimberly 612-614-0839 Attorney
Michael, Brad 612-614-0840 Investigator
Miller, Mark 612-614-0841 Attorney
Mills, Victor 612-614-0842 Investigator
Mitchell, LaToya 612-614-0843 Paralegal
Monroe, William 612-614-0844 Attorney
Morant, Andre 612-614-0845 Managing Attorney
Moriarty, Christina 612-614-0846 Attorney
Morris, Jordan 612-614-0847 Attorney
Muhammad, Kymphus 612-614-0848 Investigator
Myhran, Chase 612-614-0849 Attorney
N
Nanez, Yastril 612-614-0850 Attorney
Nichols, Judson 619-500-3602  Attorney- Part Time 
Nickell, Elliot  612-564-5894  Attorney- Contract 
Nielson, Erik  612-614-0851  Attorney 
Nikula, Randy 612-614-0852 Dispositional Advisor
Nolen, Deborah  612-614-0853 Legal Assistant 
Nolen, Julius 612-614-0854 Attorney
Nolen, Laura 612-614-0855 Attorney
Noothed, Rebecca 612-614-0856 Attorney
Novak, Molly 612-614-0857 Attorney
O
O'Bryan, Alayna 612-614-0858 Attorney
O'Connor, Brenna 612-614-0859 Attorney
O'Connor, Leslie 612-614-0860 Attorney
Oleisky, Jill  Attorney- Contract 
Olson, Aaron 612-614-0861 Attorney
Overby, Michelle 612-614-0862 Attorney
Owens, Jaycie  612-614-0863  Attorney 
P
Parrott, Anwen 612-614-0864 Attorney
Pasmanter, Eli 612-614-0865 Attorney
Patpatia, Ambika  612-614-0866  Attorney 
Patton, Anthony  612-614-0867  Attorney
Paule, Natalie  612-614-0868  Attorney 
Pawlowicz, Jennifer 612-614-0869 Legal Assistant
Perry, Briana  612-614-0870 Attorney 
Peuser, Casey 612-614-0871 Paralegal
Phelps, Rebekah 612-614-0872 Attorney
Plotnick, Mathew 612-614-0873 Attorney
Prahl, Laura 612-614-0874 Managing Attorney
Prentice, Carrie 612-614-0875 Attorney
Probst, Ashley 612-614-0876 Attorney
Provenchen, Dan  612-614-0877 Attorney
Q
Quiggle, Brett 612-614-0878 Investigator
R
Rainville, Peter 612-614-0879 Attorney
Reid, Tracy  612-614-0880 Attorney 
Reiland, Andrew 612-614-0881 Managing Attorney
Renden, Greg 612-614-0882 Attorney
Reza, Anika 612-614-0883 Attorney
Riley, Liam  612-614-0884 Attorney 
Rosser, Morgan  612-614-0885 Attorney 
S
Salgado Diaz, Eduardo 612-614-0886 Attorney
Sargent, Cathy 612-614-0887 Legal Assistant
Sather, Joelle 612-614-0888 Attorney
Scott, Elizabeth 612-614-0890 Attorney
Selman, Butch 612-614-0891 Attorney
Sherman, Darcy 612-614-0892 Attorney
Sieben, James  612-614-0893 Attorney
Skrzeczkoski, Lisa 612-614-0747 Managing Attorney
Small, Andrew  Attorney- Contract
Smart, Jesse  612-614-0894 Investigator
Smith, Desiree 612-614-0895 Legal Assistant
Sorensen, Alyson 612-614-0896 Attorney
Stoks, Amanda 612-614-0897 Attorney
Sullivan, AC 612-614-0898 Dispositional Advisor
Sumption Johnson, Kristin  612-614-0796  Investigator 
Swiontek, Matthew 612-614-0900 Attorney
T
Tierney, Collin 612-614-0901 Attorney
Tillis, Benita 612-614-0902 Legal Assistant
Torres, Sergi  612-614-0903 Attorney
U
Uri, Robyn 612-614-0904 Attorney 
V
Van Beek, Lindsey 612-614-0905 Attorney
Van Guilder, JoAnne 612-614-0906 Paralegal
Vang-Jilka, Melody  612-614-0907 Legal Assistant 
Verdoorn, Briana  612-614-0908 Investigator 
Vieira, Freya  612-614-0909 Attorney
Vora, Zeel 612-614-0910 Attorney
W
Wallace, Michele

Attorney- Contract
Wassam, Benjamin 612-614-0911 Attorney
West, Amy  612-614-0912 Dispositional Advisor 
Whaley, Jill 612-614-0913 Investigator
Whicher, Angela 612-614-0914 Attorney
Wilkie, Diana 612-614-0915 Dispositional Advisor
Willman, Mariah 612-614-0916 Legal Assistant
Wilson, DeAundres  612-281-5321  Attorney- Contract 
Witt, Trevor 612-614-0917 Attorney
Y
Yusuf, Najama 612-614-0918  Investigator 
Z
Zagorski, Emily 612-614-0919 Paralegal
 

Contact us

612-348-7530

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