CLIENT INFO

You must notify the court that you are indigent and fill out a Hardship Affidavit.  The Court must determine that you are indigent and appoint our office to represent you.

Income requirements are based on the Poverty Level Guidelines  established by the Department of Health and Human Services.  In general,  to be eligible for services the individual’s income must be at or below  125% of the  Poverty Level Guidelines. Individuals who have income  greater than 125% of the Poverty Level but below 200% may also be  eligible if the judge makes a written determination that paying for  legal representation would result in substantial hardship.  Individuals  with income above 200% of the Poverty Level may be  eligible if the judge makes a written determination that paying for  legal representation would result in substantial hardship.

https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines

YES, If you could be sentenced to jail.  You can be appointed a public defender in Traffic and / or Misdemeanor cases.

POSSIBLY, our public defenders are assigned to defendants by the type of offense that you are charged with and not because they represented you in a prior matter.

NO, your public defender will only represent you in state criminal matters pending within Shelby County, Alabama.  Additionally, your public defender CAN NOT represent you in civil matters.  NO, your public defender is a full-time State of Alabama Employee.  We currently only have 1 part-time public defender.  All other  public defenders are full-time.

The Shelby County Public Defender's Office is an office of the State of Alabama and its attorneys and employees are prohibited from requesting or accepting any money, gifts, or other compensation from clients, their family or their representatives. 

YES, We are QUALIFIED for CAPITAL DEFENSE REPRESENTATION.