Ionia County Public Defender

Ionia County Public Defender Our office was created in September 2018 by Ionia County to provide criminal defense to those who cannot afford to hire their own legal representation

Well sad to say today is the last day for our intern Sophia from Michigan State who has been with us since August.  She ...
07/01/2026

Well sad to say today is the last day for our intern Sophia from Michigan State who has been with us since August. She is returning home to Rhode Island this weekend, and will be busy applying to law schools on the East Coast. We will miss her here, but we also know she will have a great legal career in her future.

Thank you to one of our Winter Semester interns Maija for a great semester.  Good luck with the rest of your academic an...
04/30/2026

Thank you to one of our Winter Semester interns Maija for a great semester. Good luck with the rest of your academic and legal careers ahead of you.

Our office is hiring for an Assistant Public Defender - here is a link to the county website for more information, or fe...
03/23/2026

Our office is hiring for an Assistant Public Defender - here is a link to the county website for more information, or feel free to contact our office at (616) 527-8242 for more information.

Full Time Public Defender Licensed for less than four years: $76,693.50 – $93,912. Licensed for more than four years: $84,981 – $103,506. Ionia County is seeking a dedicated and skilled Public Defender to join our legal team. The ideal candidate will be passionate about providing quality legal r...

02/23/2026

Next week Friday February 27th is bigger than a meeting. It’s information that can change the direction of someone’s life.

We’re excited to welcome Walt Downes, Chief Public Defender of Ionia County, to Sober Not Boring and Outreach 419 to talk about expungement and what’s actually possible when it comes to clearing your record.

Here’s why this matters:

A criminal record can quietly block jobs, housing, loans, professional licenses, even volunteer opportunities. A lot of people don’t even realize they may qualify for relief. Expungement can mean better employment, restored confidence, and a real shot at rebuilding.

And even if you’re not justice-involved… most of us know someone who is. A son. A daughter. A friend. A partner. Being informed means you can point someone toward hope instead of guessing.

This is a rare opportunity to ask real questions to someone who works inside the system every day.

🕠 Dinner at 5:30
🎤 Walt takes the stage at 6:15
💬 Q&A + open share meeting to close
🔔 And we’ll ring the church bell for sobriety milestones!!

Recovery isn’t just about staying sober. It’s about restoring lives.

Show up. Bring your questions. Bring a friend. Let’s learn something that could unlock doors. Put this one on your calendar!

235 W Fenwick Rd
Fenwick, MI 48834

Thanks to our Fall Semester intern Emma (MSU) for a great job in our office - and thank you for even taking on extra hou...
01/02/2026

Thanks to our Fall Semester intern Emma (MSU) for a great job in our office - and thank you for even taking on extra hours during the semester to help our office and our clients. We appreciated all of your hard work here. Best wishes with the remainder of your academic and legal careers!

Address

101 West Main
Ionia, MI

Opening Hours

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

Telephone

+16165278242

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