NORTHSHORE DEFENDERS

JUSTICE, FAIRNESS & DIGNITY FOR ALL

The Law Offices of the 22nd Judicial District Public Defender provide superior, client-centered legal representation for economically disadvantaged individuals.

WHO WE REPRESENT:

The 22nd JDC Public Defender’s Office represents indigent adults in criminal court facing felony and misdemeanor offenses, children in juvenile court facing delinquency or FINS (Family In Need of Services) offenses, parents in juvenile court for Child In Need of Care proceedings and non-custodial parents in child support proceedings.

We represent individuals who are considered indigent based off of their household income and the federal poverty guidelines. According to Louisiana Revised Statute 15:175(b), a person will be deemed "indigent" if unable, without substantial financial hardship to himself or to his dependents, to obtain competent, qualified legal representation on his own. "Substantial financial hardship" is presumptively determined to include all defendants who receive public assistance, such as Food Stamps or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, Disability Insurance, resides in public housing, or earns less than two hundred percent of the Federal Poverty Guideline. A defendant is presumed to have a substantial financial hardship if he or she is currently serving a sentence in a correctional institution or is housed in a mental health facility.

HOW DO I GET A PUBLIC DEFENDER?

Public Defenders only represent individuals a court has determined to be “indigent”.

Pursuant to L.R.S. 15:175, defendants seeking representation by the 22nd JDC Public Defender’s Office, or a parent or legal guardian of a defendant, if applicable, shall pay a non-refundable application fee of $40 to the Office of the Public Defender for the 22nd JDC whose fee will be in addition to all other legally imposed charges or costs. Failure to pay may result in future garnishments on your income tax refunds in accordance with L.R.S. 47:299.5.

FOR ADULT FELONY AND MISDEMEANOR:

To determine if an applicant qualifies for the services of the Public Defender’s Office, they must fill out an application and pay a non-refundable $40 application fee. This nominal fee helps cover operational expenses of the office. To avoid unnecessary continuances, applicant’s should apply before their arraignment.

  • Individuals housed in a jail, prison, or detention center, are presumed indigent and are entitled to a Public Defender while incarcerated. This means that once released from incarceration, they are no longer entitled to representation by the Public Defender’s Office unless they submit the appropriate application and pay a non-refundable $40 application fee.

Once an application is submitted, the office will determine if the applicant qualifies for a public defender.

  • If the applicant is determined to be INDIGENT, an attorney from the Public Defender’s Office will be appointed and enroll as your attorney.

  • If the applicant is determined to be NOT INDIGENT, they do not qualify for the services of the Public Defender’s Office and will NOT be appointed a Public Defender. The applicant must hire private counsel.

  • If the applicant is determined to be PARTIALLY INDIGENT, they may be contacted by the office for more information. If a public defender is appointed, additional fees will apply.

FOR CHILDREN AND PARENTS IN JUVENILE COURT:

DELINQUENCY: When a child is alleged to have committed an offense when they were under 17 years old, their case will be heard in juvenile court. Children under 17 are presumed to be indigent and automatically qualify for a public defender.

  • If a parent hires a private attorney to represent their child who later withdraws, regardless of the reason, the Public Defender’s Office will not represent the child unless an application and the non-refundable $40 application fee is submitted.

CHILD IN NEED OF CARE: If an applicant is the biological or legal parent of a child who is the subject of a Child In Need of Care proceeding involving the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), they automatically qualify for a public defender.

  • If a parent hires a private attorney to represent them who later withdraws, the Public Defender’s Office will not represent the parent unless they submit an application and pay a non-refundable $40 application fee.

CHILD SUPPORT: In St. Tammany and Washington Parish, if the applicant is the non-custodial parent in a child support proceeding, they automatically qualify for a public defender. This service is not available in all districts.

  • If a non-custodial parent hires a private attorney who later withdraws, the public defender’s office will not represent them unless they submit an application and pay a non-refundable $40 application fee.