PUBLIC DEFENDER
(928) 779-6663 Fax (928) 779-6770
Toll Free (866) 290-2466
Mission Statement
Following appointment by the courts of Coconino County, the Office provides, pursuant to ethical and constitutional obligations, quality and cost-efficient legal representation to indigent persons who are: criminal defendants; minors accused of delinquency; the subjects of mental health commitment proceedings; parties to child dependency actions; or parties involved in termination of parental rights litigation.
Since the 1963 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Gideon vs. Wainwright, states have been required to provide lawyers to represent criminal defendants who are unable to pay for their own attorney. Additional case law and legislation have required the appointment of counsel in other cases. In Arizona, counties have the responsibility for providing counsel to the indigent. Coconino County has created a Public Defender's Office for this purpose. No person can be represented by the Public Defender until the Office is appointed by a court.
Public Defender Chief Deputy
H. Allen Gerhardt Jacque Hatch
Adult Attorneys
Brad Bransky, Steve Hauser, Steve Harvey, Lew Levin, Kevin O'Brien,
Sara Presler-Hoefle, Fanny Stein, Josh Steinlage, Nina Thorstenson
Juvenile Supervisor
Sandy Diehl
Juvenile Attorneys
Amy Criddle, Howard Grodman, Angela DeMarse
Chief Investigator
Vince Lopez
Administrative Support Staff
consists of one Administrative Senior Manager and
five Adminstrative Specialists