Government Code section 15420

The primary responsibilities of the State Public Defender are as follows:

(a)

To represent those persons who are entitled to representation at public expense in the proceedings listed in subdivisions (a) to (d), inclusive, of Section 15421.

(b)

To provide assistance and training to public defender offices established pursuant to Section 27700 to 27712, inclusive, to counsel appointed pursuant to Section 987 to 987.9, inclusive, of the Penal Code, and to counsel appointed pursuant to Section 634, 634.3, and 634.6, inclusive, of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and to engage in related efforts for the purpose of improving the quality of indigent defense.

Source: Section 15420, https://leginfo.­legislature.­ca.­gov/faces/codes_displaySection.­xhtml?lawCode=GOV§ionNum=15420.­ (updated Aug. 6, 2020; accessed Nov. 24, 2025).

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Verified:
Nov. 24, 2025

§ 15420's source at ca​.gov