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Public Defender
Duties
The Public Defender's Office was created in 1982 by constitutional mandate to provide indigent legal defense for:
Felony, misdemeanor and probation violation charges against adults and juveniles in Whatcom County Superior and District courts
Involuntary mental and alcohol commitments
Basic Information for Clients
Apply for a Public Defender -
Affidavit of Indigency
To check your
Superior Court dates
To check your
District Court dates
To view the most recent
Superior Court calendar
You can contact your lawyer by email
Please don’t use email to schedule appointments. Instead, call 360-778-5640 to
make an appointment.
“
Staff Directory
"
- When you find your attorney’s name, click on the link to send an email.
Never discuss confidential or sensitive information about your case by email
What is that court date for?
1
st
appearance
If in custody, the prosecutor has 72 hours (3 business days) to file charges. The 72 hour rule does not apply when the person is released from jail.
The Judge determines if there is probable cause (PC).
The Judge sets conditions of release and the client either is released on personal recognizance (PR) or required to post bail.
Arraignment
Client pleads “not guilty” and the court schedules either a status hearing, omnibus hearing and trial dates.
Status and Omnibus hearings
Let’s the court know what the attorney and client are planning (change of plea, trial, continuance, etc).
Cases We Handle (and Cases We Don't Handle)
Attorney Biographies
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