Public Defender

You may qualify for a free public defender in Skagit County if your income meets eligibility requirements and you are:

• Charged with a crime (felony of misdemeanor).
• Facing involuntary mental health commitment (civil commitment/ITA).
• Facing civil contempt for unpaid child support.
• A juvenile involved in an At-Risk Youth (ARY) or Child in Need of Services (ChINS) case.

If you are a juvenile, you are entitled to a public defender regardless of the income of your family.

If you don’t already have an attorney, contact the Office of Assigned Counsel (OAC).  They are a separate Department and not part of the Public Defender Office.  They will review your financial information to see if you qualify for a public defender, and if so, send a referral to the Public Defender Office.

Office Of Assigned Counsel
Located in Skagit County Superior Courthouse
205 W. Kincaid, Suite #301
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
Phone: (360) 416-1690
email: assignedcounsel@skagitcountywa.gov

In the U.S., the words lawyer and attorney are generally used interchangeably.  All attorneys who practice in Washington State Courts have completed educational requirements and are licensed to practice by the Washington State Bar Association.

Public Defenders, Prosecutors, and private attorneys are all attorneys, and have all met the same requirements.  Public Defenders are appointed by the court or government to represent clients without taking payment from the client.  But Public Defenders still work for the client, representing the client’s interest. 

Public Defenders are on your side, not the government’s side.

Everyone is entitled to an attorney who does not have any conflicts of interest with their case.  This is because you are entitled to any attorney who is only worried about you, and not how your case will impact other clients.  The Public Defender Office represents a lot of people.  So, the Office may already represent someone else involved in your case, such as a co-defendant or victim.  If this happens, you are assigned a conflict attorney.  Conflict attorneys are attorneys who do not work for the Public Defender Office, but are still being paid by Skagit County to represent you.  This happens regularly and is nothing to be concerned about.   This will not harm your case.  Conflict Attorneys are still qualified attorneys who will represent you without receiving payment from you.

Generally, no.  The law limits when you are entitled to a Public Defender.  Attorneys in our office can only represent you on the case that was referred to our office.  We generally cannot help you with civil matters, or matters not directly related to the case we represent you on.

If you have a Public Defender, you can ask for referrals to other resources that may be able to help.  Also, please see our Resources page.

The Skagit County Jail website lists all people housed in the Skagit County Jail, their location within the jail, and provides information about how you can visit.

Link to new jail website.

No, eligibility for a public defender is not dependent on your citizenship or residency status.  You should not disclose your status to the court or to law enforcement.  You should share that information with your attorney, who will keep it confidential.

Yes, you must ask and/or apply for an attorney for each case you have.  Different courts have different processes.  But, if you already have a Public Defender, they can direct you how to apply for an attorney on your new case.

The Skagit County Public Defender only represents clients in Skagit County District and Skagit County Superior Court.  If you have cases in another county, or in a Municipal Court within Skagit County, such as Mount Vernon, Burlington, Sedro Woolley, or Anacortes, the Skagit County Public Defender cannot represent you.  Contact the Court where your case is filed, to ask how to apply for a Public Defender for that court.

When you come to court, the judge and prosecutor will see you and may judge you based on the clothing you are wearing or how you act. 

Except for religious head coverings, please remove hats in court.  Please don’t wear any clothing with logos or words that the court may find offensive, such as items that reference drugs, alcohol, violence, gangs, or use profanity.  We understand people may have limited clothing options or may be coming straight from work.  Whenever possible, do your best to wear clean clothing without large rips or tears, and avoid tank tops, shorts, and short skirts or short dresses.

Keep your voice down in court.  If you need to speak to someone, step out into the hallway.  Do not interrupt court hearings.

Turn off cell phones and electronic devices in court.  Do not take a call in court.

Please be on time.

If you don’t bring anything to your first appointment with your attorney, that is fine.  At your first appointment, your attorney may indicate things you should bring to your second meeting.  What is most important, is making and keeping the appointment, not what you bring.

• Names and phone numbers of witnesses you think have helpful information.
• Information about any treatment, services, or education you are participating in.
• If the case is driving related, any notices you have received from the department of licensing.
• Photos you took during or after the incident, including things like photos of injuries, photos of damage, etc…
• Medical records, if you were injured in relation to the incident, or if you have medical issues you want your attorney to know about.

Not all courts allow you to appear by ZOOM, and even if a court allows ZOOM, it may not be an option for your specific hearing.  To determine if you can appear by ZOOM, call your attorney.  If you do not have an attorney, visit the court website or call the court.

Please keep in mind that if you are appearing remotely via zoom or similar platform you are “in court.”  Log in on time.  Dress appropriately.  Do not eat, drink, or smoke on camera.  Keep your device muted until your case is called.  Most courts will require that your camera is on and the Judge can see your face when your case is called.