Appointed Attorney/Public Defender at 52-3 District Court

Felony Appointed Attorney

You will fill out an appointed attorney request form at your arraignment, and you should be as detailed as possible. The district court will review the request form to determine if you are indigent. If you are determined to be indigent, the district court will send the form to the Oakland County Indigent Defense Services Office (IDSO) for appointment of an attorney.
You should expect your appointed attorney to contact you prior to your next court date. This is why it is extremely important for you to include accurate contact information on your attorney request form.
Information regarding your appointed attorney can be obtained from the IDSO by emailing idso@oakgov.com. Your email will be answered during normal business hours, which are 8:30am – 4:30pm, Monday through Friday.
If you hire an attorney, you should contact the Oakland County Indigent Defense Services Office (IDSO) at 248-452-9396 and inform them you hired an attorney.
For payment information call the Oakland County Reimbursement Division at 248-858-0506. The office hours are 8:30am - 4:30pm Monday through Friday.

Misdemeanor Appointed Attorney

At your arraignment, you should let the magistrate know that you want a court appointed attorney. If you have been previously arraigned, or have a pending court date and you need a court appointed attorney, you will need to come into the court to fill out the paperwork as soon as possible. It will be sent back to the judge assigned to your case to be reviewed for approval/denial. If the judge approves the appointment, your attorney will be here for your court date.

Please note, your court appointed attorney will not contact you prior to your court date. You will meet with them for the first time on your court date. You may not have the same court appointed attorney for each of your court appearances.

Request for Appointed Attorney (MC222).