Coronavirus (COVID-19) update: ODS offices remain operational. Please call if you need a public defender. More Info
This month, Office of Defense Services Appellate Division Chief Nicole Walker was elected to serve as a member of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers (AAAL). Walker is one of two attorneys in Delaware and one four public defenders nationwide to be elected to the AAAL. “It is an honor to be elected to the […]
Read MoreTwo of our incredibly talented attorneys, Meryem Dede and Dawn Williams, were recognized this month by the Delaware State Bar Association. Meryem, who is a felony-level attorney in New Castle County, was awarded the 2020 Young Lawyers Distinguished Service Award for her advocacy to end debtors’ prisons. Dawn, who is the ODS’s Director of Training […]
Read MoreKevin O’Connell was sworn in as Chief Defender of the Delaware Office of Defense Services on Wednesday, June 2, 2021 at 4:30 p.m. during a small ceremony at the Leonard L. Williams Justice Center in Wilmington. O’Connell was appointed to the position by Governor John Carney and confirmed by the Delaware Senate in May. He […]
Read MoreFor the 10th year in a row, the News Journal recognized the Office of Defense Services as a top workplace in Delaware. The honor is a testament to our commitment to safeguarding our clients’ constitutional rights and ensuring that our clients receive the best possible representation. As in previous years, the Office of Defense Services […]
Read MoreOperations at the Delaware Courts have changed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (the coronavirus), but our office is still operational and accepting new clients. Please reach out at the below numbers if you have been arrested and need a Public Defender. (302) 255-0130 in New Castle County (302) 739-4476 in Kent County (302) 856-5310 […]
Read MoreDelaware’s top public defender was named a civil liberty superhero this month by the ACLU of Delaware. Brendan O’Neill, Chief Defender at the Office of Defense Services, was honored with the 2019 Kandler Award for his career in public defense. He shared the award alongside Charlotte King from the Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice. […]
Read MoreLarry Sullivan’s passing marks a sad day in Delaware. Larry was a giant in the world of indigent defense, both here in Delaware and nationally. He was a fierce advocate for poor people accused of crimes. Over his long tenure as Delaware’s Public Defender, Larry doggedly fought to ensure that every accused person got a […]
Read MoreThe Office of Defense Services, along with House Democrats, introduced a series of juvenile justice reform bills that will help kids touched by the criminal justice system have a chance of leading successful lives. The package’s introduction comes as the legal community celebrates the 50th anniversary of In re: Gault, the landmark U.S. Supreme Court […]
Read MoreThe consequences of a juvenile arrest or adjudication can be ever-lasting. Mistakes from the past can follow youth into the future, affecting college applications, job hunts, and access to stable housing. For adults, the problem is often amplified. Criminal records can be severe barriers to stable employment and housing, and can oftentimes contribute to […]
Read MoreObtaining an expungement is tricky. Especially if you have a juvenile record. Under current Delaware law there are a variety of charges and scenarios that eliminate expungement as a possibility. Below is one. You’ve cleaned your life up after making a few mistakes as a kid. You’ve never re-offended and you’re well into adulthood. But […]
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