Attorneys appointed as Assistant Public Defenders

Disposition Specialists

Investigators

Secretaries, receptionists and clerks

Paralegals and interviewers

Management information systems personnel

Budget and finance personnel

Administrative personnel

Law librarian

Volunteer attorneys

Law school, college and high school interns.

All Public Defender employees serve at the discretion of the Public Defender. The Public Defender is assisted by Rory Stein, the Executive Assistant Public Defender & General Counsel; Guy D. Robinson, Chief Assistant Public Defender, Felony Division and Assistant General Counsel; Richard De Maria, Chief Assistant Public Defender, County Court Division; Marie Osborne, Chief Assistant Public Defender, Juvenile Division; Maria Lauredo, Chief Assistant Public Defender, Appellate Division; Robert Coppel, Director of Training and Professionalism; Luciana Silva, Director of Human Resources, Nancy Faber, Director of Support Services and Esther Lew, Director of Finance and Accounting. The administrative team assist in the formulation of office policy and implementation.

The office enjoys a national reputation for excellence by setting the highest professional standards for recruiting and training attorneys and support staff. We have a nationwide recruitment program that emphasizes training and professional development.

The Training Director is responsible for recruiting attorneys and training all staff, including Assistant Public Defenders [APDs]. He also assigns and supervises certified and non-certified legal interns and coordinates the presentation of in-house seminars and training workshops.

Our office keeps up with the latest developments in the legal and scientific fields and shares that knowledge with staff through a law library and a formal office-wide training program, considered one of the finest in the country. As part of our continuing legal education, we regularly hold in-house lectures and demonstrations and send our assistant public defenders to seminars and trial practice institutes around the nation.

The office makes available other learning opportunities to our assistant public defenders, disposition specialists and investigators by regularly convening lectures and demonstrations, many featuring speakers from outside the office. For example, a monthly death penalty forum is held featuring the participation of experienced capital trial and appellate attorneys from our office and the private defense bar.

Our formal attorney training program begins with the Orientation Training Series, a one-week, intensive schedule of lectures and demonstrations on case preparation and trial practice that is presented to new APDs and interns participating in our law student intern program. The strength of our office is, in part, derived from the willingness of our assistant public defenders to share their knowledge and experience with new members of the staff. 30 Most of our more experienced assistant public defenders have been instructors in the program.

For attorneys, the program continues with the assignment of an experienced trial lawyer, as a Training Attorney, to provide one-on-one assistance to the new lawyer. This supportive environment affords the new lawyer the opportunity to gain knowledge and develop skills at an advanced rate.

Yet, despite our impressive formal training program, perhaps our most effective training tool is the informal exchange that occurs among our assistant public defenders, through discussions about their cases and the law. Our assistant public defenders share a strong commitment to providing quality representation to our clients.

The Automation Training Unit [ATU] trains employees and volunteers to use the information system. ATU develops training and reference materials to provide the resources necessary for optimizing efficiency. ATU has developed an extensive forms bank with over 600 documents, including letters, memoranda, orders, motions and affidavits.

In short, while our assistant public defenders handle their own caseloads with a good deal of autonomy, we aim to provide the learning experiences and environment necessary for them to do so in a highly competent and professional manner.

The Appellate Division handles appeals arising from felony, misdemeanor, juvenile and mental health cases of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit and County Court of Miami-Dade County, and the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit Court in Monroe County. The Appellate Division also handles direct capital appeals before the Supreme Court of Florida. In addition, the appellate attorneys file extraordinary writs where appropriate.

The assistant public defenders assigned to the Appellate Division primarily represent clients appealing their convictions and sentences. The appellate attorneys review the transcripts of trial court proceedings to identify and research possible legal errors that may have violated the client’s rights during pre-trial, trial or sentencing proceedings. The attorneys prepare written briefs and submit them to the state and federal appellate courts. They also present oral arguments to appellate judges.

The Public Defender created the Early Representation Unit (ERU) to better serve his clients between arrest and arraignment and reduce costs associated with pre-trial incarceration.

This specialized unit intervenes early in the process by asking judges to release eligible clients to Pre-trial Services (PTS), the PTS Monitored Release (electronic bracelet) Program or to the custody of a responsible family member. The ERU also handles bond hearings (including Arthur hearings) for eligible clients charged with "non-bondable" offenses. Clients eligible for ERU assistance are those remaining in jail after their first court appearance who do not face murder charges, and those who have no open felony cases or holds from other agencies, such as the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service or Florida Department of Corrections.

The ERU begins the case investigation and in appropriate cases asks prosecutors to drop charges based on testimony from witnesses, case law and other factors. Such early intervention also helps to identify clients with medical or mental health needs who require immediate attention. In some cases, the staff refers clients to our Disposition Services Unit.

The ERU promotes a more cost-effective and efficient judicial process through a speedier resolution of cases and saves Miami-Dade County taxpayers $2 million a year.

The Felony Intake Unit begins the case investigation and in appropriate cases asks prosecutors to drop charges based on testimony from witnesses, case law and other factors. Such early intervention also helps to identify clients with medical or mental health needs who require immediate attention. In some cases, the staff refers clients to our Disposition Services Unit.

The Capital Litigation Unit (CLU) provides competent, effective representation in the trial and sentencing phases of criminal cases in which the prosecution seeks the death penalty.

Professional standards, including those of the American Bar Association and National Legal Aid and Defender Association, dictate the extraordinary preparation required for effective representation in death penalty cases. To implement those standards, CLU is directly or indirectly involved in all capital cases in the office.

The assistant public defenders assigned to the Domestic Representation Unit represent people who are charged with misdemeanor crimes involving domestic violence in domestic violence court.

Under Florida law, domestic violence includes any assault, aggravated assault, battery, aggravated battery, sexual assault, sexual battery, stalking, aggravated stalking, kidnapping, false imprisonment, or any criminal offense resulting in physical injury or death of one family or household member by another who is or was residing in the same single dwelling unit.

The more serious domestic violence cases are handled by our Felony Division.

Specialized Representation Division
Paul Kaminsky, Senior Supervising Attorney

Civil Mental Health Unit attorneys are responsible for protecting the liberty interests of clients subject to involuntary placement proceedings who are not facing a prison or jail sentence. However, the client faces the deprivation of his liberty by being held in a locked psychiatric hospital unit against his will.

The Public Defender established this innovative unit to safeguard the liberty interests of clients who suffer from mental illness or mental retardation. Dedicated, experienced attorneys, on long-term assignment, work in the division because these cases are complex and require specialized legal knowledge. Our assistant public defenders handle nearly all civil involuntary commitment and involuntary placement of persons with mental retardation cases within our jurisdiction, making sure that judicial hearings are prompt and that no one is held without due process and judicial review. These attorneys also try to ensure that their clients’ rights are protected while they are patients in mental health facilities.

The attorneys assigned to the Civil Mental Health Unit are also involved in community activities and projects. The Public Defender believes that educating the public on the rights of our clients is essential to properly representing them in court. Among other things, the attorneys in this division work with such groups as the Association for Retarded Citizens, the Advocacy Center for Persons With Disabilities, the local Florida Department of Children and Families’ Health and Human Services Board, the Florida Supreme Court Commission on Fairness, and the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Miami. The attorneys also give presentations on the Baker Act and patient's rights to legislators, physicians, social workers, medical students and other groups of professionals.

Indefinite Civil Commitment Unit Florida law provides for the indefinite civil commitment of juveniles and adults who have served their sentences and who are classified as sexually violent predators. This law, commonly known as the Jimmy Ryce Act, authorizes judges to appoint the Public Defender’s Office to defend indigent people (respondents) that the State of Florida is seeking to commit for an extended period for care, treatment and control.

The Indefinite Civil Commitment Unit (ICCU) was formed to provide the necessary defense of individuals who qualify for confinement under the statute.

Felony Mental Health: The attorneys and paralegal assigned to the Felony Mental Health Unit (FMH) represents clients who have been found incompetent to proceed (ITP) or not guilty by reason of insanity (NGI). Prior to the finding of ITP or NGI our Felony Division attorneys represent these clients and FMH attorneys are available to consult on the mental health/legal issues. ITP and NGI clients may be committed to the Department of Children & Families (DCF) for treatment or training in a forensic state hospital or they may be conditionally released for treatment or training in the community. FMH attorneys represent ITP clients at hearings to determine: whether they’ve regained competency to proceed; whether they continue to meet commitment criteria; whether they have violated a conditional release plan; or whether because of on-going incompetency the charges should be dismissed. The FMH attorneys represent NGI clients at hearings to determine whether they continue to meet commitment criteria; whether they have violated a conditional release plan; or whether the court should terminate jurisdiction because they no longer need court supervision. They also represent these clients at involuntary treatment hearings.

Drug Court The Drug Court concept was pioneered in Miami-Dade County in response to the crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980's and the resulting explosion of drug cases. It was a collaboration between the Public Defender’s Office, SAO and the Court. The former Miami-Dade Public Defender Bennett H. Brummer was a founder and champion of drug court. Miami-Dade’s Drug Court is so successful it has been the model for establishing some 600 drug courts across the country and around the world. Rather than a traditional trial court, Drug Court may be more properly regarded as a treatment program. No one is adjudicated in Drug Court. If a person has no prior criminal history and successfully completes the program, his or her case is Nol Pros (an announcement that the State is no longer going to prosecute the case). If the person has a prior criminal history and successfully completes the program, he would receive a withhold-of-adjudication on the charges. Depending on the prior criminal history, the person may be eligible to have their record sealed or expunged . For more information regarding The Drug Court process, please click here.

Disposition specialists are part of the defense team that provides representation to our clients. They are an essential element of the Public Defender’s Anti-Violence Initiative and the Juvenile Sentencing Advocacy Project. In many of the cases our office handles each year, the clients have substance abuse, mental, developmental and emotional problems that can be successfully treated if properly identified and addressed by effective programs.

The disposition specialists conduct in-depth client interviews, assess client needs and interview relatives, school personnel and the staff of programs previously attended by the client. The disposition specialists can make referrals to psychologists, psychiatrists and other experts, develop and coordinate rehabilitative treatment plans, and prepare treatment and sentencing plans.

Our disposition specialists identify and evaluate community programs and refer clients and their families to the most appropriate ones.

This comprehensive approach provides clients with treatment options and the opportunity to become productive, law-abiding citizens. Judges and prosecutors also benefit because they are provided with a more complete picture of the clients and sentencing alternatives that will benefit the community. Appropriate treatment reduces the likelihood that clients will re-offend and is less expensive than jail or prison.

Disposition specialists are assigned to the felony, misdemeanor, and juvenile delinquency courts assisting our lawyers to identify and address issues such as: mental retardation, mental illness, physical disabilities, learning disabilities, substance abuse, dual diagnosis (substance abuse and mental illness), homelessness, physical or sexual abuse, illiteracy and other special education needs, unemployment, parenting skills, anger control and sexual disorders.

In County Court, the disposition specialists assist in diverting mentally-ill clients from jail to a treatment program or facility.

The Public Defender recognizes that capable, well trained, professional investigators and paralegals are crucial to the defense function.
The investigator’s primary responsibility is to gather information from individuals and institutions and conceptualize the raw data into a form that is meaningful and useful to the attorney. Our office encourages its investigators to be independent thinkers who will apply common sense, training and life experiences to the resolution of problems in the preparation of the defense of a case.

The paralegal's primary responsibility it to interview our clients and gather crucial information during the first 72 hours of a person's incarceration. This information is vital for the representation of our client's defense. The paralegal’s meet with the clients and provide the attorneys with legal, biographical and information concerning the client's medical and psychological functioning. Medical and psychological services are provide to our clients based upon the assessment of the paralegal.

The Public Defender demands of his investigators and paralegals conduct consistent with the highest standards of professionalism, a fundamental sense of fair play and respect for the dignity of others.