Federal Public Defender for the District of Arizona

The Federal Public Defender for the District of Arizona is a federal judiciary organization that represents people who cannot afford retained counsel in eligible criminal proceedings. Its work includes trial defense, appeals and capital habeas corpus representation, with attorneys supported by investigators, paralegals and other staff. The office’s mandate derives from the constitutional right to counsel and the Criminal Justice Act. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit appoints the federal public defender, distinguishing the office from Arizona’s state, county and municipal defense agencies. Based in Phoenix, it maintains Arizona offices in Tucson, Flagstaff and Yuma, as well as a capital habeas satellite office in Salt Lake City.