San Diego County Public Defender

The San Diego County Public Defender's office is an agency of the government of San Diego County, California. It provides legal assistance to individuals charged with a crime in state court who are financially unable to retain private counsel. The office consists of the Primary Public Defender, the Alternate Public Defender, the Office of Assigned Counsel & the Multiple Conflicts Office. Mental health and juvenile court matters are handled by special units within the divisions.

Courts within their jurisdiction include the San Diego Superior Court, the California Court of Appeal for the Fourth District, and the Supreme Court of California. The San Diego County District Attorney and the San Diego City Attorney prosecute alleged felony and misdemeanor violations of California state law that occur within the jurisdiction of San Diego County. Alleged federal law violations by indigent defendants are defended by the Federal Defenders of San Diego Inc.