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Important Updates

Community Outreach Day News Conference
June 2, 2021 | 10:30AM EST
News Conference Video

Important Covid-19 Information
The Public Defender's Office directs all applicants to use the online application to request representation.
Should you need the services of the Public Defender, and you are not incarcerated, use the online application found below within the Applications section.

     

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Attention!

Users will need to use Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader to access The Public Defender Application(s). 

     

Applications - English Online Application

     

Applications - English PDF Fillable Forms

     

Aplicaciones (Español) - PDF Fillable Forms

     

Office of the Public Defender

OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER
LEHIGH COUNTY COURTHOUSE
455 HAMILTON ST RM 615
ALLENTOWN, PA 18101-1602
TEL: 610-782-3157
FAX: 610-820-3154
E-mail: GeneralPublicDefender@LehighCounty.org

Monday thru Friday: 8:00AM-4:30PM

KIMBERLY F. MAKOUL, ESQUIRE
 CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER
Mission Statement: The Public Defender endeavors to protect the rights of our clients by providing vigorous, compassionate and ethical legal representation to individuals who can not afford to pay for an attorney. Our highly trained and motivated staff of licensed attorneys are committed to excellence and progressive representation at the cutting edge of Pennsylvania criminal practice.

About the Office: We represent eligible individuals in all misdemeanors and felonies, excluding ARD eligible Driving Under the Influence charges. We also will represent juveniles in delinquency matters, as well as individuals charged with Driving with a Suspended license-DUI related, involuntary mental health commitments,  and any other matter where representation is constitutionally required. Our staff is comprised of 19 attorneys, 2 investigators and 4 administrative assistants.  Our office strives to meet the needs of our clients and to protect their civil liberties under both the United States and the Pennsylvania Constitutions.
     

Important Message from the Office Of The Public Defender

LEHIGH COUNTY CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER WARNS OF TELEPHONE SCAMMERS WHO ARE CLAIMING TO BE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE

According to Chief Public Defender Kimberly Makoul, numerous individuals have reported receiving telephone calls from a person claiming to be an attorney with the Lehigh County Public Defender's Office. The caller claims that the individual's child/grandchild has been charged with a crime and that bail money must be sent to the attorney immediately. He then directs them to wire the money, often through Walmart, to a third person. 

The caller is NOT from the Public Defender's Office.  Attorneys from the Public Defender's Office never collect money from anyone for any reason.

Attorney Makoul advises the public that anyone receiving a call requesting money should immediately contact the Lehigh County Public Defender's Office at (610) 782-3157.