Бывший руководитель государственной защиты штата Огайо возглавил офис публичных защитников округа Монтгомери

The former leader of the Ohio Public Defender’s Office is now leading Montgomery County’s public defenders. Timothy Young took over as Montgomery County’s Public Defender earlier this month. He was appointed by the Montgomery County Public Defender Commission. “To serve people in our community in need of a voice, people accused by the government, and people in need of help is why I came to this work and why I continue to serve as a public defender,” Young said. Public defenders are lawyers appointed by the government to represent individuals who are unable to afford legal representation. The Montgomery County Public Defender’s Office serves clients with felony criminal defense, juvenile delinquency, family law, probate and appellate cases. His staff of nearly 90 lawyers, administrators, social workers and other employees helped oversee more than 13,000 cases last year. Many people served by his office, he said, interact with the justice system because of circumstances tied to mental health or drug addiction issues. “Every single person knows somebody who has a mental health issue or a drug addiction issue,” Young said. “For the vast majority of people, it’s a family member. They immediately picture in their head their cousin, their brother. Maybe they even picture themselves. That’s who we represent every day.” Young said the public defender’s office sees intimate impacts from fluctuations in the economy and other social changes. “We are not a stand-alone system,” he said. “Our clients’ lives are what led them here, and the societal impact on their lives is what led them here.” Young served as Ohio State Public Defender from 2008 to 2025. He is a founding member of the National Association for Public Defense, a national public defense membership association. He began his public defense career at the Montgomery County Public Defender’s Office, where he served for 14 years as a staff attorney and later as deputy director. Young is a University of Dayton Law School graduate. Young told this news outlet he’s excited to be home. “I cut my teeth here,” he said. “I became a public defender here. It’s great to be back.” Young succeeds Theresa G. Haire, who previously served as Public Defender Director.