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ARKANSAS PUBLIC DEFENDER COMMISSION
TRIAL PUBLIC DEFENDER DIVISION
Twentieth Judicial Division
Telephone 501-450-4975
Fax 501-450-4976

Office Address:
1270 Bruce St
Conway, AR 72034

The 20th Judicial District of Arkansas is comprised of Faulkner, Van Buren, and Searcy counties. The Administrative office of the Public Defender for the District is located in Conway AR. Each county in the District has public defenders assigned whose primary duties are defense of cases in their respective county. However, Public Defenders are assigned cases in other counties of the district as necessary. Each county has a Circuit Court, District Court, and Clerks of the Court, and each maintains its own scheduling and terms of the Court. 

The Arkansas Public Defender Commission is an independent agency of the State of Arkansas which was created and exists to provide legal defense to persons who have been found to be financially indigent by a Court, and who are charged with offenses or accused of conduct which may result in loss of liberty in the event that the defendant is found guilty. The Public Defender also provides juvenile representation in cases involving allegations of delinquency and families in need of services. The Public Defender does not provide legal services involving divorce, custody or other civil matters.

The Arkansas Public Defender Commission is governed by a Board of Commissioners and administered by an Executive Director. The office of the agency is located in Little Rock and each judicial district has a local administrative office which administers the affairs of the Public Defender within the judicial district, subject to the oversight and control by the Executive Director.

Legal representation is provided by the Public Defender at no charge to qualified persons, with the exception of assessment of a user fee, which may not exceed $400.00, at the inception of a case. In certain cases where financial circumstances are appropriate, an attorney fee may be assessed at the conclusion of a case. All such funds collected are remitted to the Arkansas Public Defender Commission for use in the ongoing operations of the agency. Salaries of Public Defenders are paid by the State of Arkansas and Public Defenders may not accept money or anything of value from, or on behalf of clients for representation of them.  All Public Defenders are attorneys who are licensed by the Supreme Court of Arkansas and meet ongoing legal education and training requirements.

In addition to the Trial Public Defender Division, the Arkansas Public Defender Commission maintains a Capital, Conflicts and Appellate Division and a Juvenile Ombudsman Division. The Juvenile Ombudsman principally monitors and provides oversight of cases in which a juvenile has been adjudicated delinquent and committed to the Arkansas Department of Youth Services. The Capital, Conflicts and Appellate Division is charged with defense of persons who are alleged to have committed capital crimes and for which the prosecuting attorney seeks the death penalty. Due to the gravity of such cases, defendants are appointed two attorneys.