Assigned Counsel

The Law Office of the Hamilton County Public Defender maintains and administers a list for the appointment of counsel from several Rotation Panels for Felonies, Misdemeanors, Appellate, Juvenile Delinquency and Dependency cases, as well as the appointment of Guardian Ad Litem attorneys for appropriate cases in Juvenile Court.

Participation on these panels requires submission of the appropriate Registration Form(s) along with strict compliance with our Standards, Guidelines and Regulations. Attorneys wishing to participate in the Guardian Ad Litem and Dependency Panels must also review the Rotation Panel Policy Manual for Dependency Court.

Each year the Law Office of the Hamilton County Public Defender will conduct a review of each panel and determine whether additions, deletions or alterations to each panel are necessary and appropriate. Prior placement on any panel does not guarantee continued placement on that panel. The current review of all Rotation Panels will begin the first week of October each year.  All Registrations for participation on these panels must be received on or before the last business day in September.

Attorneys that want to participate on a particular panel must submit the appropriate Registration Form(s) with supporting documentation. This Registration will then be reviewed and a determination made as to whether placement on the panel will be made. Submission of a Registration does not guarantee placement on a panel. All Registrations will be reviewed by the Public Defender, Deputy Public Defender and the appropriate Division Directors, Assistant Directors and Supervisors to determine whether placement will be made. If a placement is not made, an applicant’s Registration may be kept for consideration in the event a vacancy occurs and a replacement needs to be made.

If an attorney who has not previously participated in a Rotation Panel is selected, that attorney should contact the Deputy Public Defender for information regarding identification cards, access to the courthouse, 800 Broadway, 20/20, the jail, etc.

Attorneys that want to participate in the Mentoring Program established by the Law Office of the Hamilton County Public Defender shall complete the appropriate Registration and indicate their desire to participate as a mentor or mentee.

All Registration, and Re-categorization forms and supporting documentation must be received by on or before the last business day in September.

They should be sent to: Panel@hamiltoncountypd.org

PLEASE send each application as well as your required supporting documentation as separate files or attachments to your email.

If you are applying for one (or both) of our adult criminal panels and our adult appellate panel, you would need to transmit 4 files:

1. Application for Inclusion on Felony/Misdemeanor Panels
2. Registration, or Recategorization, for Appellate Panel
3. Supporting Documents (Letterhead, CLE Transcript, Declarations Page, Attorney Registration Card)