Ongoing Indigent Defense Services for Felony and Misdemeanor Cases - Public Defender

By way of this Request for Qualifications (RFQ), the County of Tuolumne Office of the Public Defender intends to pre-qualify and select individuals, firms, or associations of firms to provide indigent defense services for felony and misdemeanor criminal cases on an interim basis while the Public Defender's Office recruits for vacant positions. This RFQ will be open continuously and the County will have the discretion to add individuals, firms, or associations of firms to the pre-qualified list at any time.

The County of Tuolumne's ("County") spectacular landscapes, open spaces, cultural amenities, rich history and recreational and educational opportunities make this region a unique and vibrant place to live.

Tuolumne County is one of California's original 27 counties, created upon statehood in 1850. Sonora is the original and current county seat, and is the only incorporated city in the county. Tuolumne County is located in the central Sierra Nevada foothills with major rivers to the north and south. The Sierra Nevada mountain range forms the border in the east, and the county flows into the great central valley in the west. As of 2021, The County population was 55,810.

The Public Defender's Office provides constitutionally-mandated indigent legal defense services in felony and misdemeanor cases. An overall increase in criminal complaints filed by the District Attorney call for interim legal services while the Public Defender's Office recruits for full-time, permanent attorneys to defend felony and misdemeanor cases.

In fiscal year 2022/2023, the Public Defender's office maintained an average of 800 open felony cases and 1,054 open misdemeanor cases.

The County is requesting qualifications from individuals, consortiums, or firms to meet the immediate and interim need for defense of felony and misdemeanor cases. The County intends to contract with all qualified applicants to which the Public Defender can assign cases to at their discretion.