Hamilton County Public Defender

05/21/2026

05/12/2026

Join us in thanking Gabriel Fletcher for his dedicated service to the Hamilton County Public Defender Commission. Gabe served on the Commission from July 2021 to February 2026.

We appreciate his thoughtful leadership and the many contributions he made to advancing justice, fairness and equity in Hamilton County’s criminal legal system. His support and guidance helped strengthen the work of our office and the clients we serve.

05/06/2026

It’s graduation season, and we’re proud to celebrate the next generation of legal professionals making an impact in our office. 🎓

Senior Paralegal Ann Ohmer recently attended two events at Cincinnati State recognizing students connected to our Appellate Division internship program.

Appellate Intern Lucy O’Brien was named the 2026 Co-Op Student of the Year. Lucy will complete her associate degree before transferring to the University of Cincinnati to study Political Science as she prepares for law school.

Appellate Intern Kate Schulte was recognized in the Connect to Careers Poster Project. Kate earned her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from UC in 2025 and is currently pursuing her paralegal certificate.

For more than 10 years, Ann has mentored over 25 students from colleges across the region, helping many take the next step toward careers in law and public service.

Congratulations to Lucy and Kate — and thank you to Ann for continuing to invest in future advocates and public defenders.

05/05/2026

Save the date for our next One Stop - May 29. See you there!

05/01/2026

We said goodbye to our 2026 Criminal Defense Clinic students today! The Clinic is a year long experience for third year law students from the UC Donald P. Klekamp College of Law. They spent their year working on real cases, representing real clients, and getting real courtroom experience.

We’ll miss them and wish them the best as they move on, finish their finals, and sit for the bar exam!

04/23/2026

Today we’re saying thank you and goodbye to our Bachelor of Social Work interns, Ali Gamez and Madeline Hegedus. Since September, they’ve built meaningful connections with clients, managed their own caseloads, and gained hands-on experience in forensic social work and the legal system.

Both will graduate in May from the University of Cincinnati and plan to take the LSW exam before continuing their education this fall. Ali plans to attend Northern Kentucky University to pursue her MSW, and Madeline plans to attend Indiana University for her MSW.

They’ve been an important part of our Adult Social Services Division, and their work has made a real impact. We’ll miss them, but we’re excited to see where their careers take them next!

Ali and Madeline are pictured with Veronica Hand, the Director of our Adult Social Services Division.

04/23/2026

Today, April 23, public defenders across the country are participating in a Day of Action to support the constitutional right to counsel.

This follows events in San Francisco, where Chief Public Defender Mano Raju was held in contempt and fined after declining to take on additional felony cases due to already high caseloads. This situation has sparked a broader national conversation about ensuring public defense systems allow for effective, ethical representation. We’re joining in solidarity by wearing black and standing with public defenders nationwide.

We are grateful for the continued support of the Hamilton County Board of County Commissioners and the funding we receive to provide services for the people of Hamilton County.

04/22/2026

04/20/2026

A friendly reminder about the recent changes to cannabis laws in Ohio!

04/17/2026

Our Adult Social Services Division recently spent time with Hamilton County judges sharing how they support clients, including access to housing, treatment, transportation, evaluations, mitigation, and crisis response.

When people are connected to the right resources, it can improve outcomes, reduce recidivism, and ensure individuals receive the support they need to move forward.

04/10/2026

We'll be at the Office of Reentry's One Stop event later this month! Learn more about our Fresh Start program - a free service we offer to help you get your records sealed or expunged!