Office of the Public Defender - Steamboat Springs

Colorado’s Office of the State Public Defender is known for its high quality representation and efficient organizational structure that provides effective assistance of counsel in a cost-conscious manner. The Office was recognized by The Economist magazine as one of only two public defense systems in the United States that provides zealous client advocacy in a cost-effective manner.

Our system is comprised of 21 regional trial offices. The system also has a centralized appellate office that handles felony appeals from every jurisdiction in the State, as well as a centralized state administrative office.

The Public Defender managerial staff includes Douglas K. Wilson, Colorado State Public Defender; Frances Smylie Brown, Chief Deputy Public Defender; Brian N. Connors, Chief Deputy Public Defender; Douglas D. Tracey, Chief Administrative & Operations Officer; Daniel B. King and Tamara A. Brady, Chief Trial Deputies; Ann M. Roan, Training Director; Karen S. Porter, Controller; Tony Petruccelli, Integrated Information Systems Manager; and Office Heads and Office Managers in each of the regional and appellate offices.

The system employs approximately 300 trial attorneys, 30 appellate attorneys, support staff and investigators. For fiscal year 2010, the Office’s operating budget is approximately 55 million dollars, which will support an estimated 125,000 cases carried this year by our regional trial offices and appellate office. During fiscal year 2009, the Office carried approximately 117,000 trial office cases and 1,200 appellate cases.