Maricopa County Office of the Public Defender

04/22/2026

Thank you to all of the administrative professionals and staff who keep our office running! We had a great time celebrating you today!

04/22/2026

10/28/2025

We are assisting Maricopa County District 5 with a restoration of rights event on November 8! Spread the word!

10/20/2025

⚖️ Gary Kula, a steady hand behind the court services and legal support at our StandDown events for years, is departing from his position with the Maricopa County Office of the Public Defender.

💙 We recognize his incredible contributions to the work, as well as his long-standing partnership and immeasurable impact on the lives of Arizona's veterans.

🏡 From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you, Gary. We're rooting for your next chapter of inspiration, passion, and kind-heartedness.

06/04/2025

Join our reading challenge! We joined the Maricopa County Library District Summer Reading Challenge and you can participate by visiting the link below and reading five of the nine books we chose. This year we chose books that center on societal issues, but many of these stories also have a theme of hope. These important novels will challenge your views on society, force you to take a look at your place in the world, and inspire you to make a difference.

Just Mercy – Bryan Stevenson
Those Empty Eyes – Charlie Donlea
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings – Maya Angelou
1984 – George Orwell
Nineteen Minutes – Jodi Picoult
Let Us Descend – Jesmyn Ward
The Road – Cormac McCarthy
Blindness – Jose Saramago
I Cheerfully Refuse – Leif Enger

Join here: https://maricopacountyreads.org/Challenges/Detail/151

05/22/2025

Join Arlene Anderson, one of our very own superstar Trainers, for this timely and important webinar hosted by the National Association for Public Defense! All employees of the Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office are NAPD members and registration is free for members.

05/09/2025

MCLEAPS Program Celebrates a Decade of Impact

Our office is a proud partner of Maricopa County and ASU’s MCLEAPS program, which recently marked its 10th anniversary. The program is focused on inspiring students to consider public service as a career. The celebration included current interns sharing their valuable insights from their semester assignments, while program alumni and partners gathered to commemorate a decade of professional and development opportunities and community impact.

05/09/2025

Thank you Office of the Public Defender (OPD) for this fantastic book haul/donation! These books will bring so much joy to the row population.

Special shout out to Jeni and Fredrica for their coordination support! 📚

05/08/2025

Maricopa County DUI and Drug Court team provides support, accountability, and encouragement to individuals struggling with a substance use disorder.

The team includes a judicial officer and staff from the Adult Probation Department, the Maricopa County Office of the Public Defender, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, and community treatment providers.

READ MORE https://superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/posts/press-releases/2025/judicial-branch-celebrates-national-treatment-court-month/

Maricopa County Bar Association
All Rise

05/05/2025

The Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office Annual Golf Tournament took place over the weekend at Encanto golf course. Thank you to everyone who came out to support this awesome event!