PUBLIC DEFENDER

Columbus City Codes tit. 1, ch. 173

in effect

Columbus City Codes § 173.01 Office established.

173.01 - Office established. There is established the office of public defender of indigent persons charged with offenses in the municipal court, and free of legal adviser of indigent persons. (Sec. 2.26.)

Columbus City Codes § 173.02 Qualifications.

173.02 - Qualifications. The public defender shall be an attorney at law, duly admitted to practice in all courts of record in the State at least two (2) years prior to the time of the public defender's appointment and shall be an actual and bona fide resident of the city for not less than one year preceding his appointment. (Sec. 2.27; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 173.03 Appointment.

173.03 - Appointment. The public defender shall be appointed by the city council. (Sec. 2.28.)

Columbus City Codes § 173.04 General duties.

173.04 - General duties. The duties of the public defender and free legal adviser of indigent persons shall be to defend, without expense, any person who shall be charged with an offense or who shall be cited or charged with a contempt in the municipal court of the city when such person shall be indigent and unable to employ an attorney for that purpose. It shall be the duty of such officer, upon request, to give advice and counsel to indigent persons concerning any charge or complaint against them or about which they shall seek the public defender's advice, and the public defender shall prosecute all appeals or proceedings in error to a higher court on behalf of such persons when, in the public defender's opinion, such appeal or proceedings in error will or might reasonably be expected to result in a reversal or modification of the judgment or conviction. Such officer shall devote full time and attention to the duties of the public defender's office and shall not solicit or receive from any litigant or person advised any fee whatsoever. Such officer shall also represent any indigent litigants, either plaintiffs or defendants, in the civil branch of the municipal court, who give satisfactory proof of their lack of means to secure private counsel. (Sec. 2.29; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 173.05 Determination of indigency.

173.05 - Determination of indigency. Before representing any person in either branch of the municipal court, or before giving free legal advice to any person, such officer shall conduct a proper inquiry that such person is an indigent person and may, whenever the indigency of any such person is in doubt, call upon the division of charities or some other recognized investigation agency for a report as to the indigency of such person. Upon objection being made in court to the public defender's representing any person, the trial court shall determine whether or not such person is indigent and entitled, under the provisions of this chapter, to the services of the public defender. (Sec. 2.29; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 173.06 Office hours.

173.06 - Office hours. Except when engaged in court, or otherwise in the performance of the public defender's duties, the public defender shall have and keep regular office hours during each business day which shall be from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except on Saturday, when such office shall be from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon. (Sec. 2.30; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 173.07 Records and reports.

173.07 - Records and reports. The public defender shall keep a record of the cases and complaints defended or prosecuted by him as well as all other activities of the office, and shall make a monthly report thereof to the city council. (Sec. 2.31.)

Source: City of Columbus, City Codes and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/oh/columbus/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT1ADCO_CH173PUDEFetched: 10/27/2026