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Public Defender Juvenile Division Attorneys

Juvenile Division Law Offices

2337 East Ajo Way, Tucson, AZ 85713
520/740-2994 M - F 8am - 5pm

Link to Juvenile Division Law Offices Map

About Us

The Juvenile Division of the Pima County Public Defender represents persons under the age of 18 years who are charged with delinquent offenses in Pima County. We represent over 4,500 minors a year whose families cannot afford to hire legal counsel. Our office is comprised of a team of professionals dedicated to defending the rights of youth. We currently employ 14 attorneys and a legal staff that includes Legal Secretaries and Clerks, Criminal Investigators, Social Workers, and Legal Interns.

Mission Statement

To provide legal representation to all children that is individualized, developmentally appropriate, age appropriate, and free of racial, ethnic, gender, social, and economic bias. To recognize that all children have strengths and the potential to become productive members of society, and that each has the right to constitutional and statutory protections.

What We Do (Journey of the Case)

Once the Office of the Public Defender is appointed to represent a minor accused of a crime, the assigned attorney immediately contacts the youth to arrange a meeting. At that meeting, the youth has the opportunity to discuss the circumstances of his or her arrest in a confidential setting, and learn from the attorney about the court process.

With the assistance of an attorney, the youth will make the decision of how best to pursue a defense in each case. Because we utilize a team approach to case management, we offer each case a diversity of viewpoints and a wealth of talents. Each attorney has resources that include a Team Leader, seasoned fellow attorneys, and a capable support staff to help prepare each case for court.

We continue our representation through adjudication to final disposition of the minor’s case and on into any probationary supervision. We know how important the support of family is for a youth involved in the criminal justice system, so we make every effort to keep family members involved, and informed of the progress in their minor’s case.

Goals

- To develop our capacity and leadership

- To demonstrate a commitment to professionalism

- To promote accountability and bring about reform in the juvenile justice system, and

- To enhance our role in the justice system through collaboration and greater community involvement.

Juvenile Division Public Defender Attorneys

Leah Hamilton
Team Leader

Graduate of the University of Arizona College of Law, 1987; admitted to the State Bar of Arizona, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, 1987; practical experience as a Law Clerk, Summer 1986; substantial and extensive experience as a Defense Attorney in the Felony Trial, Appellate, and Juvenile Law Divisions of the Law Offices of the Pima County Public Defender since 1988.

Mary Fliegel

Graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School, 1983; admitted to the State Bar of Wisconsin, 1983, and the State Bar of Arizona, 1985; substantial and extensive experience as a Defense Attorney in the Law Offices of the Pima County Public Defender since 1985.

Karen Smith

Graduate of the University of Arizona College of Law, 1985; admitted to the State Bar of Arizona, 1986; Staff Attorney, Pinal/Gila Counties Legal Aid Society , 1986-89; substantial and extensive experience as a Defense Attorney in the Felony and Juvenile Divisions of the Law Offices of the Pima County Public Defender since 1989.

Susan Kelly

Graduate of the University of Arizona College of Law, 1988; admitted to the State Bar of Arizona, 1989; Associate Attorney in a private Arizona criminal defense law firm, 1990-93; Criminal Appeals Attorney, 1993-95; pro bono Immigration Attorney, Southern Arizona Legal Aid, 1989-95; substantial experience as a Defense Attorney in the Felony, Appeals, and Juvenile Divisions of the Law Offices of the Pima County Public Defender since 1995.

Jennifer Langford

Graduate of the University of Arizona College of Law, 1994; admitted to the State Bar of Arizona, 1994; Attorney in private Arizona law firm, 1994-95; substantial experience as a Defense Attorney in the Law Offices of the Pima County Public Defender since 1995.

Eva Graham

Graduate of the University of Arizona College of Law, 1994; admitted to the State Bar of Arizona, 1994; Attorney in private practice, 1994-96; Defense Attorney in the Law Offices of the Pima County Public Defender since 1997.

Terri Pones

Graduate of the University of Iowa College of Law, 2000; admitted to the State Bar of Arizona, 2000; Defense Attorney in the Juvenile division of the Law Offices of the Pima County Public Defender since 2001.

Eva Bacal

Graduate of the University of Arizona College of Law, 1990; admitted to the State Bar of Arizona, 1991, the United States District Court of Arizona, 1992, and the Ninth Circuit of Appeals, 1993; Arizona Assistant Attorney General, 1991-2004; Defense Attorney in the Law Offices of the Pima County Public Defender since 2004.

Buck Rocker

Graduate of Tulane University School of Law, 2004; admitted to the State Bar of Arizona, 2004; Defense Attorney in the Law Offices of the Pima County Public Defender since 2005.

Fred Kay

Graduate of the New England School of Law, 1969; admitted to the State Bar of Arizona, and the United States District Court of Arizona, 1969; admitted to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, 1972, and to the United States Supreme Court, 1979; substantial and extensive experience as a Tucson City Prosecutor, Civil Practice Attorney, Federal Public Defender, and Defense Attorney in the Law Offices of the Pima County Public Defender.

Matt Jasper

Graduate of the University of Arizona College of Law, 1998; admitted to the State Bar of Arizona, 1998; Defense Attorney for La Paz County Public Defender’s Office, 1998-1999; Prosecutor for Santa Cruz County Attorney’s Office, 1999-2000; Law Clerk for the Honorable Clark Munger, Pima County Superior Court, 2000; Defense Attorney for Pima County Public Defender’s Office, 2000-2001; Private Attorney in Pima County Juvenile Court, 2001-2004; Arizona Assistant Attorney General, 2004-2005; Defense Attorney for the Law Offices of the Pima County Public Defender since 2006.

Sheena Chawla

Graduate of the University of Arizona Rogers College of Law, 2007; admitted to the State Bar of Arizona, 2008; practical experience as Rule 38(d) attorney in the University of Arizona Child Advocacy Clinic 2006-2007. Law clerk in the Executive Office of Immigration Review, Eloy Arizona; 2005-2006. Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Terry L. Chandler, Pima County Juvenile Court; 2007-2008. Defense Attorney in the Law Offices of the Pima County Public Defender since 2008.