Our Work
Summit Legal Defenders is the public defender office for Summit County, Ohio. Our attorneys are appointed to their clients by the various courts here in Summit County. We do not take private clients. All our clients must qualify for indigent representation. We have a team of 40 attorneys who handle a wide range of cases. However, we do not handle divorce, wills and estates, bankruptcy, or other civil matters.
Misdemeanor Defense
We represent criminal defendants in Akron, Barberton, and Stow Municipal courts. Our attorneys handle all misdemeanor charges that carry the possibility of incarceration, including certain traffic offenses such as OVI and most Driving Under Suspension offenses. Our office is appointed by the various courts to handle these matters. All clients must be indigent to qualify for our representation.
Child and Family Defense
Juvenile Delinquency Defense
SLD attorneys represent children facing criminal charges throughout Summit County. We are appointed by Summit County Juvenile Court to handle these cases and work with hundreds of children each year to resolve their charges, both felony and misdemeanor.
Child and Family Defense
Juvenile Life Without Parole Defense
Senate Bill 256 became effective in April, 2021. The bill abolished life without parole for juvenile offenders and created eligibility for parole for people who were under 18 at the time of the offense for which they were convicted and sentenced. We currently take a limited number of cases for parole review.
Felony Defense
Beginning in 2024, our office began taking felony cases in Summit County Common Pleas Court. We are appointed by the individual judges to felony cases. Our office assists with a wide range of felony matters, including community control violations. All clients must be indigent to qualify for our representation.
Child and Family Defense
Parent Abuse, Neglect, and Dependency Defense
When parents face the loss of their children from a complaint filed by Summit County Children’s Services, our office will provide representation to those parents. Our attorneys are appointed by Summit County Juvenile Court. All clients must be indigent to qualify for our representation.
Clean Slate Program
The Clean Slate Program handles criminal record sealing, expungement, and driver’s license restoration. For more information please click here.
Appellate Defense
Our appellate attorneys assist with research, case updates, and frequently review or contribute to objections as well as file appeals in the Ninth District Court of Appeals.
Child and Family Defense
Adoption Defense
Parents facing the loss of parental rights due to adoption have a right to counsel as of December, 2020. Our office began working with these clients at the request of the Summit County Probate Court. Parents who receive a notice of adoption should contact our office immediately to discuss representation. Please email Managing Attorney Jill Cabe at jcabe@legaldefenders.org .
Intern Program
We recruit interns from across Ohio, though primarily from the University of Akron School of Law. Each year we offer our summer program and law students are eager to get practical experience working in criminal law. Interns also manage arraignments in Akron Municipal Court, arriving at the Summit County Jail at 6:30 am and 1:00 pm to speak with clients and gather information to make bond arguments. Interns with intern certificates from the Ohio Supreme Court are able to go on the record with attorney supervision. If you are interested in applying to be an intern please contact Training Director Abigail Schock at aschock@legaldefeneders.org .