Mission Statement

The Kendall County Public Defender’s Office recognizes that quality legal representation in criminal and related proceedings is a fundamental right of the people of the State of Illinois and that there should be no distinction in the availability of quality legal representation based upon a person’s inability to pay.

Overview and Background

The Public Defender’s Office was created by Illinois State Statute based on an individual’s right to counsel and to due process protections that are guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Illinois State Constitution. The Kendall County Public Defender’s office is composed of licensed attorneys who represent those individuals that have been accused of a crime which carries with it the potential for jail or prison time and cannot afford to retain private counsel. This office handles all varieties of criminal matters, from traffic, misdemeanors, felonies to first-degree murder. The Public Defender’s office can also be appointed in juvenile cases, including juvenile delinquency matters as well as abuse, neglect and dependency cases involving the rights of a parent accused of abusing or neglecting their child. The Public Defender’s office may represent both of the child’s parents and/or be appointed to represent the interests of the child.