Divisions of the Cook County Public Defender

The Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender is one of the largest criminal defense firms in the Country, with over 500 attorneys and 600 employees overall, representing thousands of Cook County residents charged with every type of criminal offense and child protection violation. The Public Defender has the responsibility to staff courtrooms throughout the Circuit Court of Cook County. We represent clients in 14 separate locations, including 5 Suburban Courthouses, Juvenile Court, Domestic Relations Court, Traffic Court, 5 branch court locations throughout Chicago, and the Leighton Criminal Courthouse. Because the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender is committed to providing our clients the most responsive legal representation possible, given how broad the areas of law in which we practice and how diverse the Courts are throughout the County, the office is divided into divisions.

Public Defender Divisions

Homicide Task Force

The Homicide Task Force is a specialized division of the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender, consisting of highly skilled and experienced lawyers assigned to represent clients who are accused of murder or homicide offenses.

Juvenile Justice Division

The Juvenile Justice Division represents youths accused of crimes ranging from first-degree murder to graffiti. By law, these clients are 17 years old or younger when the incident that triggers their cases begin.

Legal Resources Division

The primary responsibility of the Legal Resources Division is to represent clients in post-trial matters, post-conviction petitions, and appellate cases.

Multiple Defendant Division

Attorneys assigned to the Multiple Defendant Division (MDD) of the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender represent clients in felony and first-degree murder cases where more than one person is accused.

Professional Development

The Division of Professional Development is responsible for the professional development of management, attorneys, investigators, and support staff, who comprise the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender.

Suburban Divisions

Each suburban division is housed in one of 5 Cook County Courthouses located outside of the city of Chicago. Each division is responsible for the representation of all indigent clients charged with any criminal case in the broader area which includes the suburb in which the court is located and, in...

Trial Technology Division

The trial technology division provides technical support of all kinds to the attorneys, investigators and support staff of the Cook County Public Defender’s Office.

Civil Division

The Civil Division of the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defenders represents parents when the State files allegations of abuse, neglect or dependency in relation to their children.

Felony Trial Division

Attorneys assigned to the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender’s Felony Trial Division represent indigent defendants in 34 courtrooms that take in cases from the City of Chicago.

Investigations Division

The Investigations Division of the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender offers support services for clients who are charged with any level of crime in Cook County.

1st Municipal Division

The First Municipal Division represents indigent clients accused of misdemeanors across Chicago, including branch courts, the domestic relations court at 555 W. Harrison, traffic court at the Daley Center.

Forensic Science Division

The Forensic Science Division (FSD) of the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender litigates cases involving any forensic evidence, including, but not limited to, forensic DNA analysis, fingerprint analysis, ballistics comparisons, and cell phone location technology. It also provides training...