About

Our Office

Established in 2011, the Harris County Public Defender's Office has come to be widely regarded as one of the best public defenders’ offices in the country. Our client-centered model of defense seeks to not only achieve the best case outcomes, but also to help each client by addressing underlying problems that can push people into the criminal system.

Defense Centered On

Each Person’s Story

Our Team

Meet Your Public Defenders

Staff Directory

Leadership

Alex Bunin

Chief Public Defender

Tolu Nelms

First Assistant Public Defender

Carmen Mireles

Administrative Officer

Sarah V. Wood

General Counsel

Jani Maselli

Appellate Division Chief

Eric Davis

Trial Bureau Chief

Leslie Ginzel

Holistic Division Chief

Steven Halpert

Juvenile Division Chief

Barbara Drumheller

Mental Health Division Chief

Bob Wicoff

Wrongful Convictions Division Chief

the People we serve

Let's hear what the public has to say!

I would like to thank you for helping me make a good and wise decision and for being honest with me and explaining in DETAIL every step of the process. You have helped me 100% better than my previous attorney. Letter from a Client
This is to thank you all for treating me as a human. My lawyer from the Public Defender's Office worked tirelessly to represent me to the best of his ability. He always took the time to explain difficult situations without some fancy lawyer talk. My family was kept up to date with court proceedings. And if I wrote him from the jail, there was always a personal response, whether in writing or a call to family to fully explain the questions at hand. I can't thank you enough for the uncanny results in my case. Letter from a Client
I just wanted to write you to thank you one more time for an outstanding job on my case. You are by far the best attorney I've ever had the privilege of meeting. Letter from a Client