|
|
Frederick A. Bernardi
Public Defender
County of Tazewell
|
|
Legal Services
Tazewell County Courthouse
342 Court Street, Rm. 305
Pekin, IL 61554
309/477-2298
|
|
OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER |
| The Office
of Public Defender was formally created by statute of the
Illinois General Assembly to satisfy the constitutional right to
counsel guaranteed by both the U.S. and Illinois Constitutions.
The right to counsel, as interpreted by both our federal and
state courts, provides that any person charged with a criminal
offense for which incarceration is a possibility is entitled to
the services of an attorney to represent him or her. If the
person charged cannot afford to employ an attorney, the State
has a legal duty to provide one. All attorneys serving in the
Office are duly licensed to practice law in the State of
Illinois. |
| The Public
Defender’s Office in Tazewell County is presently comprised of
the Public Defender and fourteen assistant defenders. The
attorneys represent clients in all the courts in the county,
including felony, misdemeanor, traffic, and the juvenile court.
The Public Defender’s Office is not allowed to undertake the
representation of an individual unless a judge first enters an
order that the individual is entitled to be represented by the
Office. It is not possible to obtain representation by counsel
or legal advice by simply calling the Office and making a
request. The initial request must be made in court when the
person seeking counsel appears before a judge. |
| |
|
 |
|
