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Michael Sheltzer
Public Defender
Lisa Bertolino
Assistant Public Defender
Angela Krueger | Supervising Attorney
Tom McGuire | Supervising Attorney
Dave Rendahl | Supervising Attorney
Ben Smukler | Supervising Attorney
Pia Stanley | Supervising Attorney
Mission Statement
The Tulare County Public Defender is mandated by state law and the Constitution to provide competent, effective and ethical legal representation to people unable to afford private counsel in certain kinds of cases where life or liberty issues are at stake. Attorneys from the Public Defender office are court appointed to represent:
- defendants accused of crimes in misdemeanor and felony cases.
- juveniles in delinquency cases.
- mentally disabled individuals facing involuntary commitments to locked facilities (e.g., conservatorship proceedings).
- and defendants facing incarceration in contempt of court cases arising out of a failure to obey civil court orders.
These legal services are provided in a cost effective manner and at the same time ensures that the county criminal justice system operates efficiently and as far as possible achieves just results for Public Defender clients.
Branch Operations
Juvenile Division
Juvenile Justice Center
11200 Avenue 368, Room 103
Visalia, CA 93291
Phone: (559)735-1435 FAX: (559)713-3229