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Monday 8:30am - 5pm Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm Thursday 8:30am - 5pm Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Law Office of the DeKalb County Public Defender

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Atlanta, GA
Law Office of the DeKalb County Public Defender

Your Rights. Our Mission. We defend individuals against any and all criminal charges brought by by the State. We are tenacious advocates for every client.

We provide zealous, effective, and ethical representation to qualifying low-income residents accused of crimes in DeKalb County, Georgia. The 6th Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees that the accused has the right to an attorney in all criminal cases. The Law Office of the Public Defender provides legal representation to those unable to afford an attorney in all criminal cases in

DeKalb County. We promote equal justice, fairness, and respect for all people in the judicial system through effective and excellent legal advocacy. In doing so, we safeguard the rights of all by providing exemplary legal representation.

03/30/2026

This National Social Work Month, we’re grateful for the social workers who make our work—and our mission—possible.

With compassion and dedication, you help center the humanity behind every case we handle. Your work may not always be visible, but its impact is profound.

Thank you for all that you do, every single day.

03/18/2026

Today we celebrate National Public Defender Day, honoring the promise of Gideon v. Wainwright—that justice should never depend on what you can afford.

Public defenders stand beside people at their most vulnerable moments, protecting constitutional rights and pushing our system to live up to its ideals. Every day, in courtrooms across the country, they fight for fairness, dignity, and due process—often with limited resources but unwavering commitment.

Today and every day, we celebrate the work, the purpose, and the people behind it. Happy National Public Defender Day!
⚖️

02/03/2026

Last week, Daryl Queen joined Professor Christina Scott’s Law and Social Welfare class at GSU College of Law to talk with students about public defense, client-centered advocacy, and what this work really looks like day to day. Always proud to see our attorneys investing in the next generation of public interest lawyers.

01/23/2026

Strong showing from our office this week at Transition into Law Practice Program (TILPP).

Six of our newest attorneys participated in the program, building core litigation skills and learning from some of the best trainers in the state.

Congratulations to:

• Diamond Belgrave
• Tristan Buckner
• Haley Haltiwanger
• Travis Hardee
• Katie Morris
• Sam Miller-Poling

We also want to recognize Azi Golshan, our Education Attorney in the Youth Defender Division, who served as an instructor for the program and helped train the next generation of public defenders.

Thank you to GPDC for delivering high-quality, hands-on training that strengthens public defense across Georgia.

Programs like TILPP have a meaningful impact on our attorneys and the clients and communities they serve.ng

01/08/2026

We were pleased to participate in the 142nd DeKalb County Police Academy Court Training on January 7–8, 2025.

Our office provided an overview of the Public Defender’s Office and participated in mock hearings to help provide a practical view of courtroom proceedings.

Thank you to Rose Priddy and to Dan Wingate for representing our office. We value opportunities like this to engage in cross-system training and support effective, fair court practice

01/07/2026

We are deeply grateful to Vichal Kumar, Kristen Bourgeois, and Dana Rafferty from Partners for Justice for leading our two-day mitigation training and bringing deep expertise and thoughtful guidance to our team.

Thank you as well to Emily Galvin Almanza, Founder and Co-Executive Director of PFJ, for her vision and leadership, and to Ashley Payne, Managing Director of PFJ, for expertly helping organize and coordinate this event.

This training for our attorneys, investigators, and social workers reinforced the importance of working together to tell our clients’ full stories. Practical, inspiring, and collaborative. Exactly the kind of work that sets the tone for the year ahead.

12/24/2025

Holidays can be especially hard for young people in detention. This week, our Youth Defender Division delivered holiday gifts to our clients at the Regional Youth Detention Center as a reminder that they are seen, valued, and not forgotten. Proud of our team for leading with humanity and heart.

12/19/2025

Holiday lunch and White Elephant gifts led to plenty of laughs.

Nothing better than celebrating the season with great colleagues!

11/08/2025

🍂🏃‍♀️ A beautiful fall morning in Decatur for Atlanta Legal Aid’s annual Run for Justice! Our team showed up strong — and we’re proud to once again take home the award for Biggest Team - Public Firm! 💪⚖️

We enjoyed the chance to support Legal Aid’s important work while getting some fresh air with our friends.

11/06/2025

We were proud to have Katie Morris and Carson King representing the DeKalb Public Defender’s Office at the Inaugural Atlanta Bar Association Job Fair last Friday, held immediately following the Fulton County swearing-in ceremony.

Our office was one of 21 participating organizations, connecting with nearly 100 newly-barred attorneys as they take the first steps in their legal careers.

It was a great opportunity to welcome new members of the Georgia bar and share more about the work happening across our metro legal community.

11/03/2025

Nine members of our DeKalb Public Defender team attended the NAPD Racial Justice Conference last week!

Administrative Professionals Iris Rowe and Jada Bounds, Investigators Shemika Chambers and Constance M’baye, Social Worker Kayla Mote, and Attorneys Olivia Broussard, Kate Collins, Diamond Belgrave, and Melissa Akins joined colleagues from across the country to explore strategies for advancing racial equity in the criminal legal system.

They returned with new ideas and renewed energy to continue advancing racial equity in our daily practice.

10/29/2025

🎃👻 Creepin’ it real at the DeKalb Public Defender’s Office! 👻🎃

Our halls were boo-tifully decorated, and we welcomed our kids (both two legged and four) for some fang-tastic trick-or-treating fun! 🍬🐾 Thanks to everyone who made our office such a howl-oween hit — fighting for justice *and* spooktacular vibes! ⚖️🕸️💀

Address

Atlanta, GA

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 5pm
Thursday	8:30am - 5pm
Friday	8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+14043712222

Website

https://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/form/georgia-public-defender-standard

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