Trial Division

Since its inception, the Ohio Public Defender’s Office has represented indigent trial clients throughout Ohio, usually in serious felonies and capital cases. In 1998, the Office created a Trial Division to focus our work for trial clients. The three lawyers currently assigned to the Trial Division are all qualified to serve as lead counsel for indigent capital defendants. In addition, our trial lawyers regularly consult with outside counsel on trial matters; they help keep the Death Penalty Motions Manual up to date; they assist Office colleagues with evidentiary hearings in Ohio post-conviction cases and federal habeas cases; and they speak at various death-penalty trial seminars.

"If we are to keep democracy, there must be a commandment:  Thou shalt not ration justice."

Learned Hand