SF Public Defender COVID-19 Information

For updates on how the San Francisco Public Defender's Office is responding to the COVID-19 public health crisis, please click here.

San Quentin Habeas Case

For more information about the San Quentin Habeas Case in Marin County Superior Court please click here.

Clients

Know the limitations of law enforcement and exercise your rights.

Locate any person being held by the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department.

Find a case by name or court number in SF Superior Court.

Send a message to a Public Defender or find any lawyer on the California Bar website.

Connect to our Clean Slate program to clear your record for employment.

Contact our Juvenile Unit for youth advocacy and family support.

Leadership

For nearly 100 years, the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office has provided effective and competent legal representation to people who are charged with a crime and unable to afford an attorney.

Led by Manohar Raju, the office provides legal representation to over 25,000 indigent people charged with crimes each year.

Manohar Raju

Public Defender

Matt Gonzalez

Chief Attorney

Lyslynn Lacoste

Chief of Staff

Patricia Lee

Assistant Chief Attorney, Defend

Angela Chan

Assistant Chief Attorney, Confront

Hadi Razzaq

Assistant Chief Attorney, Operations

Media

Careers

The San Francisco Public Defender's Office offers a variety of opportunities for both established professionals and law students seeking to enter the fast-paced and rewarding field of criminal defense practice. In addition to handling cases, our staff is actively plugged into criminal justice reform, policy issues, and community outreach, offering a rewarding and holistic experience for anyone with a passion for the work that we do.

Inspiration

On February 22, 2019, the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office lost its Public Defender of sixteen years. He continues to inspire the work done by the Office. We honor his legacy.

Image by Santiago Mejia/SF Chronicle

Contact

Address

Downtown
555 7th Street
San Francisco, CA 94103

Juvenile
375 Woodside
San Francisco, CA 94127

Phone

Downtown
Voice: 415-553-1671
Fax: 415-553-9810

Juvenile
Voice: 415-753-7601

Hours

Monday through Friday 8am to 5 PM
Holiday schedule

Social Media

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

Public Defender Manohar Raju completed Implicit Bias Training on 01/13/2020 as required by San Francisco Administrative Code Section 16.9-28.