Healthy New Jersey

Governor Phil Murphy • Lt. Governor Tahesha Way

Office of the Public Defender

Spotlights

OPD Files Class Action Lawsuit Over the NJ State Police's Failure to Timely Expunge Records

Posted 10/23/2023

OPD Welcomes Over 40 New Attorneys
Posted 10/10/2023

OPD Launches New Initiative on Spanish Language Training
Posted 09/26/2023

OPD Secures Historic Win in Shaken Baby Syndrome Case
Posted 09/13/2023

Lt. Governor Way to Sign Parole Revocation Defense Unit Legislation
Posted 09/12/2023

OPD Launches Newly Upgraded Website
Posted 09/06/2023

New OPD Case Management System Goes Live
Posted 07/10/2023

Historic Day for the Office of the Public Defender
Posted 07/05/2023

OPR Attorneys Recognized as Reunification Heroes
Posted 06/26/2023

OPR Attorneys Recognized as Reunification Heroes
Posted 06/25/2023

Governor Murphy's nomination of Michael Noriega to the Supreme Court marks the first time a public defender has been selected.

Posted 05/16/2023

Governor Murphy Endorses Elimination of Fees for OPD Clients
Posted 03/06/2023

OPD Employee Recognition Ceremony Returns in Person
Posted 02/21/2023

OPD to Expand Civil Commitment Representation to Warren and Morris Counties
Posted 11/14/2022

OPD to Expand Mental Health Advocacy Representation
Posted 10/18/2022

35 New Attorneys Join The OPD This Fall
Posted 09/29/2022

Pilot Program for Attorney-Conducted Voir Dire to Begin in September
Posted 08/01/2022

OPD Resumes In-Person Training

Posted 07/15/2022

OPD Launches Pilot Program for Telework
Posted 07/14/2022

Judicial Conference on Jury Selection Recommends 26 Reforms to the Jury System
Posted 04/13/2022

Team Shaken Baby Honored at OPD Forensic Science Conference
Posted 03/23/2022

Public Defender Krakora to Chair Sentencing Commission Subcommittee
Posted 03/11/2022

OPD Celebrates Juvenile Justice Reform Bills
Posted 01/14/2022

Supreme Court Orders Resentencing for Juvenile Offenders Sentenced as Adults for Murder
Posted 01/13/2022

Judge Strikes Down the Shaken Baby Syndrome
Posted 01/09/2022

Public Defender Krakora Takes Center Stage at Judicial Conference on Jury Selection
Posted 11/15/2021

Public Defender Krakora to Speak at Judicial Conference on Jury Selection
Posted 11/01/2021

OPD Advocates for Mental Health Courts
Posted 10/12/2021

OPD Releases Parole Project Report
Posted 10/04/2021

Public Defender Krakora to Receive ACDL-NJ's Top Honor
Posted 08/30/2021

Judge Rules that AG Directive on Eliminating Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Drug Offenses is Unlawful
Posted 08/29/2021

NJ Supreme Court Adopts OPD Position on Data Collection During Jury Selection
Posted 08/19/2021

OPD to Welcome Over 30 New Attorneys This Fall
Posted 07/23/2021

OPD Welcomes Over 80 Summer Interns
Posted 06/14/2021

OPD Launches Working Group on Transition to Electronic Files
Posted 06/14/2021

Public Defender Krakora Announces Increase in On-Site Staffing
Posted 05/17/2021

OPD Launches Working Group on Transition to Electronic Files
Posted 05/08/2021

OPD Disappointed as Governor Murphy Conditionally Vetoes Sentencing Reform Bill
Posted 04/21/2021

Forensic Science Conference Draws Rave Reviews
Posted 03/26/2021

OPD Women’s History Month Program to Feature ACLU President Deborah Archer
Posted 03/23/2021

OPD Women’s History Month Program to Feature ACLU President Deborah Archer
Posted 03/23/2021

NJ Supreme Court Hears Arguments on OPD's Order to Show Cause
Posted 01/20/2021

NJ Supreme Court to Hear OTSC Arguments on January 20, 2021
Posted 01/08/2021

NJ Supreme Court Issues OPD Order to Show Cause on Pretrial Detainees
Posted 12/17/2020

NJ Supreme Court to Hear Latest Order to Show Cause
Posted 12/15/2020

OPD Files Another Order to Show Cause in the NJ Supreme Court
Posted 12/09/2020

OPD Secures NACDL Grant for Police Accountability Database
Posted 11/19/2020

OPD Secures NACDL Grant for Police Accountability Database
Posted 11/19/2020

Settlement of Lawsuit Against Greystone Hospital is Major OPD Victory

Posted 11/09/2020

Recruiting Efforts Continue at the Equal Justice Works Job Fair
Posted 10/23/2020

OPD Joins Fight for Police Accountability
Posted 10/22/2020

OPD to Address Increasing Number of Detention Cases
Posted 08/13/2020

Governor Asks OPD to Host Press Conference in Support of Sentencing Reform
Posted 07/3_/2020

OPD Wins Important Supreme Court Case on the Criminal Justice Reform Act
Posted 07/20/2020

Public Defenders Continue the State Prison Initiative
Posted 06/21/2020

OPD Welcomes 68 Summer Interns
Posted 06/01/2020

NJ Supreme Court Will Hear Oral Argument on OPD's Order to Show Cause on May 27th
Posted 05/26/2020

NJ Supreme Court to Hear OPD’s Second Order to Show Cause for Relief of State Prison Inmates
Posted 05/20/2020

OPD State Prison Crisis Team Assisting Over 300 Vulnerable Prison Inmates
Posted 05/03/2020

OPD Establishes State Prison Crisis Team to Assist Inmates During the Pandemic
Posted 04/22/2020

County Jail Population Reduced by Over 2,000 Inmates
Posted 04/10/2020

OPD Obtains the Release of Over 700 County Jail Inmates!

Posted 03/28/2020

Public Defenders Aggressively Seeking Relief for Pretrial Detainees and Juvenile Clients
Posted 03/28/2020

OPD Fights for Release of County Jail Inmates During the Coronavirus Crisis
Posted 03/20/2020

Major Appellate Division Drug Court Win for the OPD!
Posted 02/28/2020

OPD Celebrates Black History Month
Posted 02/26/2020

OPD Management Hosts Annual Employee Recognition Luncheon
Posted 02/25/2020

OPD Wins Preliminary Injunction Halting Mercer County Jail Closing Plan
Posted 12/27/2019

Appellate Section Wins 15 NJ Supreme Court Cases in 2019!
Posted 12/16/2019

OPD Holds Another Successful Winterfeast
Posted 12/15/2019

OPD Files Lawsuit Against Mercer County Challenging Jail Closure
Posted 11/21/2019

OPD Files Lawsuit Against Mercer County Challenging Jail Closure
Posted 11/21/2019

Union OPD is Victorious in Three-Defendant Murder Case
Posted 11/01/2019

Special Hearings Unit Achieves Important Supreme Court Win
Posted 11/01/2019

OPD Welcomes 30 New Attorneys Agencywide
Posted 09/03/2019

OPD Invited to Miami-Dade Mental Health Visitation
Posted 08/12/2019

NY Times Quotes Public Defender Krakora in Coverage of Ouster of Judges
Posted 07/18/2019

OPD Instrumental in new Drug Court Manual
Posted 07/08/2019

Tremendous Wins for Appellate Section!
Posted 06/10/2019

Bergen First Assistant Jaclyn Medina Confirmed to the Bench
Posted 05/14/2019

Appellate Section Develops A Successful Pro Bono Partnership Program
Posted 05/08/2019

OPD Announces Lauren Michaels to Become EEO/Affirmative Action Officer
Posted 05/02/2019

Public Defender Krakora Invited to Speak at Law Day Ceremony
Posted 05/01/2019

Public Defender Announces Creation of Training Fellowship
Posted 04/15/2019

OPD Annual Trial Skills Program Set
Posted 04/15/2019

Essex OPD Wins Four Acquittals in a 24 Hour Period!
Posted 04/15/2019

Appellate Wins Two Supreme Court Cases!
Posted 02/06/2019

Division of Mental Health Advocacy Files Class Action Lawsuit Against Greystone Psychiatric Hospital
Posted 01/28/2019

Appellate Section Achieves 29 Wins in Only Four Months
Posted 12/13/2018

Hudson Trifecta! Three Acquittals in the Same Week
Posted 12/10/2018

OPD Showcases Training Program During Thanksgiving Week
Posted 11/21/2018

OPD Lawsuit Achieves Reforms of Middlesex Solitary Confinement Practices
Posted 11/01/2018

OPD Forensic Science Conference Draws Rave Reviews
Posted 10/06/2018

OPD Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
Posted 09/20/2018

Huge Appellate Division Win for the Special Hearings Unit!
Posted 08/06/2018

Supreme Court knocks out Child Sex Abuse Accommodation Syndrome
Posted 08/01/2018

Public Defender Krakora to serve on the Criminal Sentencing and Disposition Commission
Posted 06/30/2018

Public Defender Krakora Announces 3 new Deputy Public Defender Appointments
Posted 06/30/2018

Jennifer Sellitti and Kevin Walker named to Conviction Integrity Unit
Posted 06/30/2018

OPD Participates in National Forensic College
Posted 06/07/2018

OPD Training Program in Full Swing
Posted 05/18/2018

Bergen's First Assistant Jaclyn Medina honored by Hispanic National Bar Association
Posted 03/08/2018

The Champion Showcases Training Director Jennifer Sellitti’s Article on Challenging Police Credibility at Pretrial Motions
Posted 02/27/2018

Black History Month Program highlighted by powerful presentation by Ray Brown
Posted 02/26/2018

OPD Releases 2018 Training Calendar
Posted 01/09/2018

Criminal Justice Reform Celebrates First Anniversary

Posted 01/05/2018

First Assistant Public Defender Lorraine Augostini Confirmed to the Bench
Posted 12/08/2017

Thanksgiving Week Highlighted by OPD Training Opportunities
Posted 11/28/2017

NJ Only State given “A” Grade for Pretrial Release System
Posted 11/03/2017

OPD Conducts Annual Essential Skills Program for New Attorneys
Posted 10/23/2017

OPD's 50th Anniversary Gala a Memorable Event
Posted 10/10/2017

OPD 50th Anniversary Celebration Sold Out!
Posted 09/22/2017

OPR's Two-Day Essential Skills Program Well Received
Posted 09/14/2017

OPD Hosts Multi-Systems Involved Youth Symposium
Posted 07/18/2017

OLG Deputy Traci Telemaque Selected for ABA Diverse Leaders Academy
Posted 07/03/2017

OPD's First Asst. Public Defender Lorraine M. Augostini Nominated to the Bench
Posted 05/30/2017

Judith Fallon First Public Defender Elected President of the ACDL-NJ
Posted 05/12/2017

NJ Supreme Court Rules in OPD’s Favor in First Criminal Justice Reform Decision
Posted 05/11/2017

OPD 2017 Trial Skills Training Program Huge Success!
Posted 05/01/2017

Hudson Deputy Joseph Russo Wins Dismissal of Triple Murder Case
Posted 03/31/2017

OPD's Women’s History Month Program Gets Rave Reviews
Posted 03/27/2017

Special Hearings Unit Achieves Monumental Supreme Court Victory!
Posted 03/22/2017

Planning in Full Swing for OPD 50th Anniversary Gala
Posted 03/17/2017

Appellate Division Rules in OPD's Favor in First Criminal Justice Reform Case
Posted 02/08/2017

New Jersey's Criminal Justice Reform Sees Initial Success
Posted 02/03/2017

OPD holds 5th Annual Employee Recognition Program
Posted 01/27/2017

1st Asst. PD Lorraine Augostini to receive the MLK Champions of Social Justice & Equality Award
Posted 01/19/2017

Public Defender Krakora Sworn in for a Second Term by Chief Justice Rabner
Posted 01/17/2017

Confirmation of Joseph E. Krakora’s Second Term as NJ Public Defender
Posted 01/10/2017

Pretrial Justice Reform Goes Into Effect
Posted 01/05/2017

OPD Finalizes Pretrial Justice Manual
Posted 12/16/2016

ADPD Janine Cerra Received the NJSBA's Professionalism Award
Posted 11/03/2016

Three OPD Employees Recognized at Annual JDAI All-Sites Conference
Posted 10/14/2016

OPD to Conduct Training Program for New Attorneys
Posted 09/30/2016

OPD Opens New Offices for Middlesex Trial Region and Law Guardian
Posted 08/25/2016

New Offices for Middlesex County Trial and Law Guardian
Posted 08/24/2016

First Annual Office of Law Guardian Family Picnic
Posted 08/24/2016

OPD's Division of Mental Health Advocacy Conducts Trial Skills Training
Posted 07/12/2016

Nomination of Joseph Krakora to Second Term as NJ Public Defender
Posted 06/15/2016

Bergen First Assistant Jaclyn Medina recognized by the New Jersey Law Journal
Posted 05/05/2016

OPD to Conduct Trial Advocacy trainings
Posted 04/06/2016

OPD to Conduct Trial Advocacy Trainings
Posted 04/06/2016

OPD Hosts Annual Black History Month Celebration
Posted 02/26/2016

NJ Judiciary Invites Public Defender Krakora to Train Criminal Justice Stakeholders on Bail Reform
Posted 02/26/2016

Legislature Approves Expungements for Drug Court Graduates
Posted 01/26/2016

OPD Honors Monthly Award Recipients

Posted 01/22/2016

Office of Law Guardian Conducts Essential Skills Training
Posted 01/14/2016

5th Annual Winterfeast held at OPD Headquarters in Trenton
Posted 12/27/2015

OPD Lawsuit Challenges Solitary Confinement at the Middlesex County Jail
Posted 11/16/2015

Major Technology Upgrade Completed for OPD
Posted 11/16/2015

OPD Conducts Week Long Training for New Attorneys
Posted 11/04/2015

OPD Participates in Equal Justice Works Job Fair
Posted 10/26/2015

OPD Hosts NJ Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner for Discussion of Bail Reform
Posted 10/21/2015

OPD Welcomes 24 New Attorneys
Posted 09/18/2015

OPD Participates in National Criminal Defense College Training in Macon, GA
Posted 07/31/2015

Alonda Sullivan and Michael Wroblewski Named Family Reunification Day Heroes
Posted 07/17/2015

Kevin Walker and Eugenia Lynch installed as Bar Association Presidents
Posted 06/12/2015

OPD hosts full day orientation program for 2015 summer interns
Posted 06/04/2015

New Attorneys Attend Trial Skills Training
Posted 04/20/2015

OPD hosts all day training program for drug court attorneys
Posted 03/26/2015

Public Defender Krakora honored by the ACLU
Posted 03/25/2015

OPD Celebrates Black History Month
Posted 03/13/2015

OPD wins driving while suspended for DWI appeal in Perry

Posted 03/09/2015

ACLU-NJ to honor Public Defender Krakora at Annual Dinner
Posted 02/18/2015

OPD attorneys appointed to the bench
Posted 02/11/2015

OPD honors outstanding employees at annual luncheon
Posted 02/04/2015

OPD sponsors full day training on defense of confession cases
Posted 01/31/2015

New managers appointed by Public Defender Krakora
Posted 01/22/2015

OLG publishes crossover version of The Jurist
Posted 01/09/2015

2014 Marked by OPD Accomplishments
Posted 01/06/2015

OPD offers multiple training programs during Thanksgiving week
Posted 01/06/2015

Voters approve constitutional amendment to facilitate bail reform
Posted 01/06/2015

Training program for new attorneys draws rave reviews
Posted 01/06/2015

OPD participates in Equal Justice Works Job Fair in Washington, DC
Posted 01/06/2015

Special Thanks to Deputy Public Defender Joseph Russo
Posted 01/06/2015

OPR conducts all-day training program for trial and appellate attorneys
Posted 01/06/2015

New Essential Skills Training for Juvenile Attorneys to Begin October 1, 2014
Posted 01/06/2015

OPD to introduce new format for Essential Skills Program
Posted 01/06/2015

OPR conducts all-day training program for trial and appellate attorneys
Posted 01/06/2015

OPD to introduce new format for Essential Skills Program
Posted 01/06/2015

Appellate Section Has Extremely Successful Summer
Posted 09/02/2014

Appellate Section Has Extremely Successful Summer
Posted 09/02/2014

Supreme Court upholds reversal of conviction in the rap lyrics case
Posted 08/06/2014

Bail reform legislation passes the Senate and the Assembly
Posted 08/06/2014

12 new attorneys set to start in September
Posted 07/23/2014

OPD hiring update
Posted 07/03/2014

Daniel Derasmo and Tiffany Sawyer Named Family Reunification Heroes
Posted 06/25/2014

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