As part of Harris County’s ongoing goal to reform its criminal justice system, county leaders want to expand the capabilities of public attorneys who represent criminal defendants who cannot afford a lawyer, known as indigent cases.
The big picture
March data from the Public Defender’s Office shows public attorneys have been appointed to about 15% of felony indigent cases and 30% of misdemeanor cases so far this year. However, county leaders want the office to be able to take on half of all indigent cases in the legal system.
To do so, officials told commissioners they will need more funding for increased staffing and expanded services over the next several years.
Approximately 20% of attorney appointments in 2026 have been public defenders, according to data from Harris County’s district and county criminal courts. Alternatively, some indigent clients are represented by attorneys from the Managed Assigned Counsel Office, or MAC, as well as court-appointed private lawyers.
Both offices have increased their attorney count and caseloads over the past several years, but continued progress depends on resources, per a March 19 presentation to Commissioners Court. Officials are in the process of developing long-term strategic plans ahead of budget adoption in September to identify potential improvements to efficiency and service quality.
Chief Public Defender Genesis Draper, who assumed the role in July, said the PDO plays a key role in improving public safety in Harris County by providing indigent defense services.
“We want to make sure that we assist people not with just their case but also try and reduce the chances that they return to the criminal legal system,” she told commissioners.
Did you know?
All defendants charged with a crime in Harris County have a right to an attorney regardless of their ability to pay. The constitutional right comes from the landmark Supreme Court case Gideon v. Wainwright, which marked its 63rd anniversary March 18, National Public Defense Day.
In 2025, more than 88,000 indigent defendants in Harris County were appointed legal counsel, approximately 17% of whom were public attorneys, according to the PDO data.
“This is a very important right,” Draper said. “You cannot face the accusations of government without the assistance of counsel.”
A closer look
Draper told commissioners the PDO is aiming for a three-year roadmap to be able to accept 50% of all indigent cases. Types of cases include felony, misdemeanor, wrongful conviction, immigration, juvenile and mental health, according to the presentation.
The PDO does not currently represent clients on capital charges or crimes punishable by the death penalty, but Draper said the PDO hopes to include capital cases in future services. Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia also said he’d like to see consideration for capital cases in the office’s long-term strategic plan.
Draper said part of the PDO’s strategy focuses on increasing hiring in the misdemeanor division and establishing a feeder system where lawyers can “graduate” and take on felony cases. One method includes the post-bar fellowship program, which the PDO established last year to recruit recent law school graduates to serve as misdemeanor attorneys.
To maintain the office’s holistic approach, Draper said the PDO will have to hire peer navigators, navigators and other support staff in addition to recruiting more lawyers. She also said the PDO requires more office space to accommodate a growing staff.
More details
MAC Executive Director Porscha Brown told commissioners the office has grown its attorney list by 130 lawyers over the past five years. MAC-appointed attorneys function as independent contractors, not employees of the office.
Brown said the MAC is working to adjust its system so that defendants are appointed an attorney earlier in the case process. She also said the office is looking to expand services to include felony and juvenile cases by fiscal year 2028-29.
“When a person knows who their attorney is, they know who to call about when to go to court, they’re going to have better outcomes, and that’s what we want,” Brown told commissioners. “That goes back to public safety and better outcomes for clients.”
A quick note
Harris County has increased funding for the PDO by approximately 82% since 2024, allocating just under $70 million in FY 2025-26, according to the adopted budget.
The MAC also received a slight funding increase in FY 2025-26 by about $45,000, with a current budget of approximately $3.39 million, county documents show.
Looking forward
Commissioners directed both offices to finalize a three- to five-year strategic plan and present the findings to Commissioners Court by Aug. 1.
