Assigned Counsel 1

Members of the public have reported receiving calls, reportedly from the Judicial Branch of the Public Defender’s office, indicating that their loved one is in jail and they need to immediately send cash or provide a credit card number for bail. These calls are scams, so please do not send cash or provide your credit card number or any other personal information. A public defender would never call and ask for money or credit card information. If you receive such a call, contact the State Police in your state.

OFFICE OF CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER

ASSIGNED COUNSEL UNIT

NOTICE AS OF JULY 1, 2026: The Assigned Counsel Unit is currently accepting applications on an ongoing basis, for all Division practice areas of this vital and rewarding work.

Our assigned counsel provide meaningful, vigourous advocacy for the fundamental rights of some of Connecticut’s most marginalized individuals. An assigned counsel contract provides an excellent opportunity for attorneys to litigate contested cases in court on a regular basis while controlling their own schedules and workloads.

For a list of our practice areas, court locations and rates, see AC Information Form, click here:

To download the Application Form and instructions, click here:

Application forms are submitted by email, with a current resume and cover letter (please follow the instructions closely).

The Assigned Counsel Unit at the Office of Chief Public Defender is responsible for all assigned counsel matters, including administration of attorney contracts and financial compensation for these services. The Assigned Counsel Unit manages a budget line-item of over $40 million dollars, for approximately 22,000 cases per year.

The Director of Assigned Counsel,Attorney Alix C. Walmsley, has worked for the Division of Public Defender services for over 30 years, and has been the Director of Assigned Counsel for over 8 years. Director Walmsley has over 23 years of experience in criminal defense in Part B matters, Part A matters, criminal appellate, juvenile parole hearings and post-conviction matters including assisting with innocence claims. She supervised the Division’s Norwich office for 13 years, which covers 11 towns as well as the City of Norwich. Director Walmsley also has experience, as a private attorney, in juvenile delinquency and child protection parent representation matters and as a guardian ad litem for children. She is admitted to practice in Connecticut and Maine

Assigned Counsel:

The Division of Public Defender services is grateful for the hard work and dedication of our assigned counsel attorneys. Statewide, assigned counsel consistently litigate the most difficult cases in Connecticut’s legal system.

Assigned Counsel are court-appointed, private practice attorneys directly assigned to clients/cases by the Assigned Counsel and Child Protection Unit of the Office of Chief Public Defender (OCPD).

Assigned counsel attorneys handle a variety of matters statewide in Connecticut. They are independent contractors who contract with the Office of Chief Public Defender to practice in specific areas of law, in particular court locations.

Contracts and assignments are based on agency need.
The Assigned Counsel Unit has a standing committee to assist in decision-making on many matters affecting the administration of contracts and the attorneys.
Chief Public Defender, John Day, has final approval on assigned counsel matters.
For child welfare matters (see the “Practice Areas” link, below) the Director of Assigned Counsel consults with, and coordinates with, the Director of Delinquency Defense and Child Protection, Attorney Renee Cimino, on hiring, quality control, client concerns, scope of representation,financial administration and all contract matters for these particular practice areas.

Practice Areas

General Contract Information

Assigned Counsel Standing Committee

Case Expenses

FAQ Regarding Assigned Counsel

The Assigned Counsel Unit is located at:

55 Farmington Avenue, 8^th Floor,

Hartford, CT 06105.