OFFICE OF PUBLIC DEFENDER

William Donald Schaefer Tower; 6 St. Paul St., Suite 1400, Baltimore, MD 21202
(410) 767-8460; 1-877-430-5187 (toll free); fax: (410) 333-8496
web: www.opd.state.md.us/

Agencies	Budget	Historical Evolution	Organizational Chart

Organizational Structure	Origin & Functions	Reports

William Donald Schaefer Tower, 6 St. Paul St., Baltimore, Maryland, July 2003. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

OFFICE OF PUBLIC DEFENDER

Patricia L. Chappell, Esq., Chief Administrative Officer (410) 767-8469
e-mail: pchappell@opd.state.md.us

Janice P. Sehorn, Executive Associate (410) 767-8479
e-mail: jsehorn@opd.state.md.us

COMMUNICATIONS
Kimberlee Schultz, Director (410) 767-1839
e-mail: kschultz@opd.state.md.us

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
Lynn C. Bellamy, Esq., EEO Officer (410) 767-8463
e-mail: lbellamy@opd.state.md.us

GENERAL COUNSEL
Pete Rose, Esq., General Counsel (410) 767-2957
e-mail: prose@opd.state.md.us

DEPUTY PUBLIC DEFENDER
Michael R. Morrissette, Deputy Public Defender (appointed by Public Defender) (410) 767-8474
e-mail: mmorrissette@opd.state.md.us

Monique Cheatham, Executive Associate (410) 767-8474
e-mail: mcheatham@opd.state.md.us

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES UNIT
Van A. Lewis, Fiscal Services Administrator (410) 767-8481; e-mail: vlewis@opd.state.md.us

LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS
Laurel Albin, Director (410) 767-8534; e-mail: lalbin@opd.state.md.us

PERSONNEL UNIT
Dawn M. Kouneski, Personnel Administrator (410) 767-8500; e-mail: dkouneski@opd.state.md.us

CLIENT SERVICES DIVISION
Melissa A. H. Nolan, Director (410) 347-1077
e-mail: mnolan@opd.state.md.us

FORENSICS DIVISION
Patrick Kent, Esq., Chief Attorney (410) 223-3788
e-mail: pkent@opd.state.md.us

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIVISION
Michael Cummings, Counsel for Information Technology (410) 223-3754
e-mail: helpdesk@opd.state.md.us

INNOCENCE PROJECT
Michele M. Nethercott, Esq., Chief Attorney (410) 223-3790
e-mail: mnethercott@opd.state.md.us

JUVENILE PROTECTION DIVISION
Deborah St. Jean, Director (410) 767-8473
e-mail: dst.jean@opd.state.md.us

RECRUITMENT & HIRING DIVISION
Diane B. Lach, Esq., Director (410) 767-8467
e-mail: dlach@opd.state.md.us

TRAINING DIVISION
Mary Jo Livingston, Director (410) 767-8468
e-mail: mlivingston@opd.state.md.us

APPELLATE DIVISION & COLLATERAL REVIEW DIVISION
(C80B0003, formerly 22.02.00.03)
FY2009 appropriation: $5,343,647; authorized positions: 64

APPELLATE DIVISION
Geraldine K. Sweeney, Esq., Chief Attorney (410) 767-8553
e-mail: gsweeney@opd.state.md.us

COLLATERAL REVIEW DIVISION
D. Scott Whitney, Esq., Chief Attorney (410) 767-4179
e-mail: swhitney@opd.state.md.us

CAPITAL DEFENSE DIVISION
(C80B0005, formerly 22.02.00.05)
FY2009 appropriation: $950,661; authorized positions: 5
Katy C. O'Donnell, Esq., Chief Attorney (410) 347-1065
e-mail: opd-capitaldefense@opd.state.md.us

CHILD IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE DIVISION
Vanita Taylor, Esq., Chief Attorney (443) 263-8939
Charlene D. Dukes, Deputy Chief Attorney (443) 263-8942

BALTIMORE CITY & EASTERN SHORE
Vanita Taylor, Esq., Chief Attorney (443) 263-8939
e-mail: vtaylor@opd.state.md.us

BALTIMORE COUNTY & NORTHERN MARYLAND
Robert T. English, Esq., Supervising Attorney (410) 324-8959
e-mail: renglish@opd.state.md.us

MONTGOMERY COUNTY & WESTERN MARYLAND
Sylvia V. Long, Esq., Assistant Public Defender (240) 773-9676
e-mail: slong@opd.state.md.us

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY & SOUTHERN MARYLAND
Vicki B. Wolfson, Esq., Acting Supervising Attorney (301) 952-2567
e-mail: rmcginley@opd.state.md.us

MENTAL HEALTH DIVISION
(C80B0004, formerly 22.02.00.04)
FY2009 appropriation: $1,470,327; authorized positions: 17
Lois I. Fisher, Esq., Chief Attorney (410) 347-1072
e-mail: lfisher@opd.state.md.us

PUBLIC DEFENDER REGIONAL ADVISORY BOARD no. 1 (Districts 1, 8 & 9)
Appointed by Governor to 3-year terms:
Thomas E. Noel, Chair (chosen by Governor), 2005
Will Abercrombie, Jr., Esq.; Gary S. Bernstein, Esq.; Anissa Jai Bonner, Esq.; Sally L. Swann, Esq. Terms expire 2005.

DISTRICT 1 (BALTIMORE CITY)
OFFICE OF DISTRICT PUBLIC DEFENDER
Elizabeth L. Julian, Esq., District Public Defender (appointed by Public Defender) (410) 333-4900, ext. 206
e-mail: ejulian@opd.state.md.us

Grace E. Reusing, Esq., Deputy District Public Defender (410) 333-4900, ext. 279
e-mail: greusing@opd.state.md.us

CENTRAL BOOKING
Jerome LaCorte, Esq., Supervising Attorney (410) 209-4465
e-mail: jlacorte@opd.state.md.us

CLIENT SERVICES DIVISION
Robert Anderson, Social Work Manager (443) 223-6383
e-mail: randerson@opd.state.md.us

DISTRICT COURT DIVISION

EASTSIDE DISTRICT COURT
Howard C. Sigler, Esq., Chief Attorney (410) 878-8617; e-mail: hsigler@opd.state.md.us

SOUTHERN DISTRICT COURT
Lawrence Rogers, Esq., Chief Attorney (410) 878-8402; e-mail: lrogers@opd.state.md.us

WESTSIDE DISTRICT COURT
Sharon L. Cole, Esq., Chief Attorney (410) 878-8138; e-mail: scole@opd.state.md.us

DRUG TREATMENT COURT
Angela Shelton, Esq., Chief Attorney (410) 333-4900, ext. 246
e-mail: ashelton@opd.state.md.us

FELONY TRIAL DIVISION
Bridget D. Shepherd, Esq., Chief Attorney (410) 333-4900, ext. 241
e-mail: bshepherd@opd.state.md.us

INTAKE DIVISION
Bobby Williams, Supervisor (410) 333-4900, ext. 297
e-mail: bwilliams@opd.state.md.us

JUVENILE COURT DIVISION
David R. Fishkin, Esq., Chief Attorney (443) 263-6361
e-mail: dfishkin@opd.state.md.us

MISDEMEANOR TRIAL DIVISION
Kirk R. Osborn, Esq., Chief Attorney (410) 333-4900, ext. 215
e-mail: kosborn@opd.state.md.us

RECORDS MANAGEMENT
Lynn Y. Johnson, Supervisor (410) 333-4900, ext. 209
e-mail: ljohnson@opd.state.md.us

Baltimore City Office of Public Defender (view from St. Paul Place), Baltimore, Maryland, January 2001. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

DISTRICT 8 (BALTIMORE COUNTY)
OFFICE OF DISTRICT PUBLIC DEFENDER
Thelma J. Triplin, Esq., District Public Defender (appointed by Public Defender) (410) 324-8961
e-mail: ttriplin@opd.state.md.us

Donald E. Zaremba, Esq., Deputy District Public Defender (410) 324-8963
e-mail: dzaremba@opd.state.md.us

CIRCUIT COURT & FELONY JURY TRIAL DIVISION
Gayle L. Robinson, Esq., Supervising Attorney (410) 324-8911
e-mail: grobinson@opd.state.md.us

DISTRICT COURT JURY TRIAL DIVISION
A. Stewart Lyons, Esq., Supervising Attorney (410) 324-8931
e-mail: slyons@opd.state.md.us

INTAKE DIVISION
Chandra Daniel, Supervisor (410) 324-8901
e-mail: cdaniel@opd.state.md.us

INVESTIGATION DIVISION
Donald E. Zaremba, Esq., Deputy District Public Defender (410) 324-8928
e-mail: dzaremba@opd.state.md.us

JUVENILE DIVISION
Jerome Blake, Esq., Supervising Attorney (410) 324-8941
e-mail: jblake@opd.state.md.us

DISTRICT 9 (HARFORD COUNTY)
OFFICE OF DISTRICT PUBLIC DEFENDER
Kelly Casper, Esq., District Public Defender (appointed by Public Defender) (410) 836-4880
e-mail: kcasper@opd.state.md.us

John W. Janowich, Esq., Deputy District Public Defender (410) 836-4882
e-mail: jjanowich@opd.state.md.us

PUBLIC DEFENDER REGIONAL ADVISORY BOARD no. 2 (Districts 2 & 3)
Appointed by Governor to 3-year terms:
Daniel M. Long, Chair (chosen by Governor), 2005
Nancy Barnes Chernoff, Esq.; Anne C. Ogletree, Esq.; Gerald V. Purnell, Esq. Terms expire 2005.

DISTRICT 2 (DORCHESTER, SOMERSET, WICOMICO & WORCESTER COUNTIES)
OFFICE OF DISTRICT PUBLIC DEFENDER
James P. Murray, Esq., District Public Defender (appointed by Public Defender) (410) 713-3408
e-mail: jmurray@opd.state.md.us

Dorchester County
Angela B. DiPietro, Esq., Supervising Attorney (410) 221-2570
e-mail: adipietro@opd.state.md.us

Somerset County
John P. Rue, Esq., Assistant Public Defender (410) 651-3271
e-mail: jrue@opd.state.md.us

Wicomico County
James P. Murray, Esq., District Public Defender (410) 713-3408
e-mail: jmurray@opd.state.md.us

Worcester County
W. Burton Anderson, Esq., Supervising Attorney (410) 632-1951, ext. 306
e-mail: banderson@opd.state.md.us

DISTRICT 3 (CAROLINE, CECIL, KENT, QUEEN ANNE'S & TALBOT COUNTIES)
OFFICE OF DISTRICT PUBLIC DEFENDER
Stefan R. Skipp, Esq., District Public Defender (appointed by Public Defender) (410) 819-4020
e-mail: sskipp@opd.state.md.us

John K. Northrop, Esq., Deputy District Public Defender (410) 996-2850
e-mail: jnorthrop@opd.state.md.us

Caroline County
Matthew W. Black, Esq., Assistant Public Defender (410) 479-5756
e-mail: mblack@opd.state.md.us

Cecil County
John K. Northrop, Esq., Deputy District Public Defender (410) 996-2850
e-mail: jnorthrop@opd.state.md.us

Kent County
Stefan R. Skipp, Esq., District Public Defender (410) 778-0809
e-mail: sskipp@opd.state.md.us

Queen Anne's County
Stefan R. Skipp, Esq., District Public Defender (410) 819-4020
e-mail: sskipp@opd.state.md.us

Talbot County
Glenn Klakring, Esq., Supervising Attorney (410) 820-6100
e-mail: gklakring@opd.state.md.us

PUBLIC DEFENDER REGIONAL ADVISORY BOARD no. 3 (Districts 4, 5 & 7)
Appointed by Governor to 3-year terms:
Toni E. Clarke, Chair (chosen by Governor), 2005
Karen H. Abrams, Esq.; Paul G. Goetzke, Esq.; Daryl D. Jones, Esq.; Joseph A. Trevino, Esq. Terms expire 2005.

DISTRICT 4 (CALVERT, CHARLES & ST. MARY'S COUNTIES)
OFFICE OF DISTRICT PUBLIC DEFENDER
Sheila J. Sullivan, Esq., District Public Defender (appointed by Public Defender) (301) 609-9802
e-mail: ssullivan@opd.state.md.us

Calvert County
Dorothy Gardner-Hodge, Deputy District Public Defender (443) 550-6806
e-mail: dgardnerhodge@opd.state.md.us

Charles County
Sheila J. Sullivan, Esq., District Public Defender (301) 539-7330
e-mail: ssullivan@opd.state.md.us

St. Mary's County
John R. Getz, Esq., Supervising Attorney (301) 880-2830
e-mail: dweiers@opd.state.md.us

DISTRICT 5 (PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY)
OFFICE OF DISTRICT PUBLIC DEFENDER
Brian Denton, Esq., District Public Defender (appointed by Public Defender) (301) 952-2126
e-mail: bdenton@opd.state.md.us

Gary V. Ward, Esq., Deputy District Public Defender (301) 952-2128
e-mail: gward@opd.state.md.us

DISTRICT COURT DIVISION
Douglas Irminger, Supervising Attorney (301) 952-2112
e-mail: dirminger@opd.state.md.us

FELONY TRIAL DIVISION
Janet Callis, Esq., Supervising Attorney (301) 952-2107
e-mail: jcallis@opd.state.md.us

Janet Hart, Esq., Supervising Attorney (301) 952-2122
e-mail: jhart@opd.state.md.us

Lisa Robinson, Esq., Supervising Attorney (301) 952-2555
e-mail: lrobinson@opd.state.md.us

INTAKE DIVISION
Sheila Clark, Supervisor (301) 952-2140
e-mail: sclark@opd.state.md.us

JUVENILE DIVISION
Debra Jones, Esq., Supervising Attorney (301) 952-2117
e-mail: djones@opd.state.md.us

DISTRICT 7 (ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY)
OFFICE OF DISTRICT PUBLIC DEFENDER
William M. Davis, Esq., District Public Defender (appointed by Public Defender) (410) 295-8803
e-mail: wdavis@opd.state.md.us

Karl Gordon, Deputy District Public Defender (410) 295-8805
e-mail: kgordon@opd.state.md.us

PUBLIC DEFENDER REGIONAL ADVISORY BOARD no. 4 (Districts 6, 10, 11 & 12)
Appointed by Governor to 3-year terms:
Katherine D. Savage, Chair (chosen by Governor), 2005
Leonard J. Eiswert, Esq.; Joseph P. Kempler, Esq.; Laura N. Venezia, Esq.; Sallie E. Williams, Esq. Terms expire 2005.

DISTRICT 6 (MONTGOMERY COUNTY)
OFFICE OF DISTRICT PUBLIC DEFENDER
Paul B. DeWolfe, Jr., Esq., District Public Defender (appointed by Public Defender) (240) 773-9601
e-mail: pdewolfe@opd.state.md.us

Brian Shefferman, Esq., Deputy District Public Defender (240) 773-9651

CIRCUIT COURT DIVISION
Alan Drew, Esq., Supervising Attorney (240) 773-9623
e-mail: adrew@opd.state.md.us

Myra Kovach, Esq., Supervising Attorney, Misdemeanor Jury Trials & Appeals (240) 773-9604
e-mail: mkovach@opd.state.md.us

DISTRICT COURT DIVISION
John Lavigne, Esq., Supervising Attorney (240) 973-9641
e-mail: jlavigne@opd.state.md.us

INTAKE DIVISION
Lakisha Council, Supervisor (240) 773-9657
e-mail: lcouncil@opd.state.md.us

JUVENILE DIVISION
Mary K. Siegfried, Esq., Supervising Attorney (240) 773-9602
e-mail: msiegfried@opd.state.md.us

DISTRICT 10 (CARROLL & HOWARD COUNTIES)
OFFICE OF DISTRICT PUBLIC DEFENDER
Carol A. Hanson, Esq., District Public Defender (appointed by Public Defender) (410) 480-7777
e-mail: chanson@opd.state.md.us

Louis P. Willemin, Esq., Deputy District Public Defender (410) 480-7764

Carroll County
Judson K. Larrimore, Esq., Supervising Attorney (410) 871-3646
e-mail: jlarrimore@opd.state.md.us

Howard County
Carol A. Hanson, Esq., District Public Defender (410) 480-7777
e-mail: chanson@opd.state.md.us

DISTRICT 11 (FREDERICK & WASHINGTON COUNTIES)
OFFICE OF DISTRICT PUBLIC DEFENDER
Mary S. Riley, Esq., District Public Defender (appointed by Public Defender) (301) 600-1988
e-mail: mmorrissette@opd.state.md.us

Eric A. Reed, Deputy District Public Defender (301) 791-4728

Frederick County
Mary S. Riley, Esq., District Public Defender (301) 600-1988

Washington County
Eric A. Reed, Deputy District Public Defender (301) 791-4728

DISTRICT 12 (ALLEGANY & GARRETT COUNTIES)
OFFICE OF DISTRICT PUBLIC DEFENDER
Michael R. Burkey, Esq., District Public Defender (appointed by Public Defender) (301) 777-2142
e-mail: mburkey@opd.state.md.us

Allegany County
Michael R. Burkey, Esq., District Public Defender (301) 777-2142

Garrett County
Raymond G. Strubin, Esq., Supervising Attorney (301) 334-9196

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