Welcome to our website. The Law Office of the DeKalb County Public Defender provides legal representation to those unable to afford an attorney in all criminal cases in DeKalb County.
It is our mission to promote equal justice, fairness and respect for all people in the judicial system through effective and excellent legal advocacy. We are tenacious advocates for every client and in so doing, we safeguard the rights of all by providing exemplary legal representation.
If you need an attorney to represent you in your DeKalb County case and would like to see if you qualify for appointed counsel, please complete the available application by clicking here. If you prefer a paper application they are also available at our office at 320 Church Street Decatur GA 30030.
Please note that Georgia law requires each applicant to pay an application fee by money order of $50 (O.C.G.A . Section 15-21 A 6(b)). Under certain circumstances, the court in which you will appear may waive the fee.
To submit information, questions and concerns please email us at publicdefender@dekalbcountyga.gov
Law Office of the Public Defender
DeKalb County
320 Church Street
Decatur, Georgia, 30030
Phone: 404.371.2222
Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Letitia B. Delan, Circuit Public Defender
Letitia B. Delan is the Circuit Public Defender for the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit. She was appointed to the helm of this highly respected office in March 2024, after the retirement of our previous long term leader, Claudia Saari. In this capacity, Ms. Delan manages an office of over 100 employees engaged in the representation of indigent people accused of criminal charges in DeKalb County, Georgia. With over three decades of experience in criminal defense, Ms. Delan has earned a reputation as a tireless advocate for the rights of the accused and a trusted leader within the legal community.
Ms. Delan graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Manhattanville College in 1990 and a Juris Doctorate from Emory University School of Law in 1993. After a brief stint in private practice, she joined the DeKalb Public Defender’s Office in 1994. She quickly distinguished herself as a skilled trial lawyer, a compassionate advocate for her clients, and a mentor for young attorneys and interns. Over the years, she has represented thousands of clients facing a multitude of charges, including children prosecuted as adults, death penalty cases, and high-profile murder cases. From minor infractions to complex felony cases, Ms. Delan approached each case with unwavering dedication and a steadfast commitment to “balancing the scales…impacting lives.”
In addition to trial advocacy, Ms. Delan has been a member of the office’s Leadership Team since 2007. Prior to her current appointment, she was Chief Assistant, overseeing employee relations, executing professional development, serving as our interdepartmental liaison, assisting with budgeting, coaching attorney supervisors, and performing other administrative tasks.
As Circuit Public Defender, Ms. Delan proudly leads a team of talented attorneys, investigators, social workers, and support staff, guiding them with experience, integrity, and compassion. She is deeply committed to fostering a culture of excellence in legal advocacy, holistic representation, workplace wellness, and continuous learning within the office.
Ms. Delan is honored to give back to the criminal defense community with her time and expertise. For 14 years, she has been a perennial instructor in the Emory School of Law Trial Techniques Program and has spoken at various criminal defense conferences across the state. Ms. Delan has also participated in Gideon’s Promise, NAPD’s Leadership Institute, and the National College of Defense Counsel. She is a 2023 graduate of Leadership DeKalb and a member of the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the National Association of Public Defense.
Ms. Delan was born in Hawaii and raised in southeast Florida. She is married, with two adult children. In her spare time, she enjoys tennis, world travel, and the daily NY Times crossword puzzle.
