Anyone facing a criminal charge in Nebraska has the right to a lawyer, and the court will appoint one if you cannot afford to hire your own. The state does not run a single trial-level defender system. Instead, public defense is organised county by county, with a state commission and a federal office covering specific gaps. This page points you to 17 offices, from the Douglas County office in Omaha to the Scotts Bluff County office in Gering, and explains how to reach the right one.

How Public Defense Is Organised Across Nebraska

The right to appointed counsel comes from the Sixth Amendment and the Nebraska Constitution. In 1963 the U.S. Supreme Court's Gideon v. Wainwright decision made that right binding on state courts in felony cases. Nebraska delivers it mostly through counties. Chapter 23 of the Nebraska Revised Statutes covers county public defenders: larger counties elect one, while smaller counties may appoint a lawyer or contract with private attorneys to take indigent cases. That is why a rural county may have no office at all, only a list of approved attorneys.

Two other bodies matter. The Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy, created under Chapter 29 of the statutes, is a state agency that takes on serious or specialised matters, such as capital cases, that a county office may be unable to handle. Our records also list a Nebraska State Public Defender at 100 Centennial Mall North in Lincoln, reachable at 855-664-9214. Call that number if you are unsure whether a state-level office is involved in your matter.

The Federal Public Defender is listed at the same Lincoln address, 100 Centennial Mall North, at 402-437-5871. It represents people charged in federal court. It does not handle state charges such as most drug possession, assault, theft, or DUI cases. Those go to the county court or district court where the offence happened. Both Lincoln listings sit in Lancaster County, home to the state capital.

Getting a Court-Appointed Lawyer in Nebraska: Eligibility and Cost

Appointment is a decision made by a judge, not by the public defender's office. At your first court appearance, the judge asks whether you want a lawyer and whether you can pay for one. If you cannot, you will usually complete a financial form listing your income, savings, property, debts, and the number of people you support. There is no single income figure that guarantees approval. Judges weigh the whole picture, including the seriousness of the charge and the likely cost of a private defence.

The right to appointed counsel generally applies whenever jail time is a real possibility. That covers felonies and most misdemeanors. A minor ticket that carries only a fine is different, so check what penalty your charging document lists.

Appointed counsel does not require payment up front, but it is not always free forever. Nebraska courts can order a defendant who later has the means to repay some of the cost of a court-appointed lawyer. Ask the judge or your attorney how that works in your county, and keep copies of anything you sign. If your finances change during the case, tell your lawyer so the court has accurate information.

Do not wait for the office to call you. If you are in jail, tell the jail staff and the judge that you need a lawyer. If you are out on bond or a citation, check your court paperwork for the hearing date and contact the county court clerk. Courts also appoint lawyers in many juvenile cases, so parents of a teenager charged in juvenile court should raise the question at the first hearing.

Lincoln and Omaha Compared With Rural and Panhandle Nebraska

The two largest urban counties run the biggest offices. Douglas County's public defender is listed at 5 CIVIC Ctr in Omaha, phone 402-444-7175. In Lincoln, the listings in Lancaster County are the federal and state offices described above. For an ordinary Lancaster County charge, ask the court clerk or judge which attorney has been appointed. Metro offices have larger staffs, but caseloads are heavy, so expect scheduled meetings rather than walk-in visits.

Mid-sized regional centers have county offices near the courthouse. Hall County's office is at 231 South Locust Street in Grand Island (308-385-5016). Adams County's is at 200 North Burlington Avenue in Hastings (402-463-0555). Platte County's is at 1455 27th Avenue in Columbus (402-563-4961), and Lincoln County's is at 1020 South Dewey Street in North Platte (308-534-6740). Cass County has two listings in Plattsmouth, at 123 South 6th Street and 545 Main Street, so confirm which one is handling your case before you drive over.

The Panhandle is different. Distances are long, courts sit on set days, and a lawyer may cover several counties. The Scotts Bluff County office is at 1725 10th Street in Gering (308-436-6678), and the Box Butte County office is at 107 East 5th Street in Alliance (308-762-6644). Both are hundreds of miles from Omaha. If you live far from the courthouse, ask early whether hearings can be attended by video, and give the office a reliable phone number.

Other county offices in our records include Dakota County in Dakota City, Madison County in Madison, Otoe County in Nebraska City, Saunders County in Wahoo, York County in York, and Gage County in Beatrice.

Even where an office exists, you may be assigned a private attorney. When one office already represents a co-defendant or a witness, a second lawyer must be appointed to avoid a conflict of interest.

What to Gather Before You Call a Nebraska Public Defender Office

A few documents make the first conversation far more useful:

Keep your first call short and factual. Office staff cannot give legal advice at the front desk, but they can tell you whether the office takes your type of case, whether you need a court appointment first, and where to send paperwork. Do not discuss the facts of your case with police, jail staff, or other inmates. Talk to your lawyer. Missing a court date can lead to a warrant, so attend every hearing even if you have not yet heard back.

Public defender services in Nebraska are organized either through a statewide public defender commission or at the county level, depending on the state's approach to indigent defense. Nebraska's system determines how public defender offices are funded, staffed, and assigned, which can affect caseloads and services available at each location.

Public Defenders locations are available in 15 cities across Nebraska. They are spread across 15 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration of public defender offices include Plattsmouth, Lincoln, Madison, where larger court systems generate higher volumes of criminal cases requiring public defense services.

Defendants in Nebraska who believe they qualify for a public defender should not attempt to represent themselves in criminal proceedings. Requesting appointed counsel at your first court appearance is your constitutional right, and the process for establishing eligibility is handled by the court.

Public Defenders by Counties

A
B
C
D
G
H
L
M
O
P
S
Y

Individuals in Nebraska who are assigned a public defender should make every scheduled court date, stay in contact with their assigned attorney, and promptly provide any information or documentation their attorney requests. If you cannot reach your public defender, contact the main office directly to ensure your case is properly managed before any upcoming hearings.

Browse Public Defenders by county across Nebraska to find the nearest location.

Reading Nebraska Public Defender Listings Before You Visit

County records and our database do not always use the same names. The Gage County office in Beatrice appears in our listing as 'Cage County Public Defender,' which looks like a typo in the source record. The address is 1705 N 6th St and the phone is 402-228-8900. Otoe County's office is filed under the city name 'Nebraska,' presumably Nebraska City, at 602 Central Avenue. Dakota County's office is listed under 'Dakota' as the Dakota City Public Defender, at 1601 Broadway Street.

Always call before travelling. Public defender offices are often small, and attorneys spend much of the day in court. Some offices meet only clients with appointed cases, and some counties route intake through the court clerk. Confirm the street address, the hours, and whether the lawyer will meet you at the office or at the courthouse. Saunders County's office is at 666 North Broadway Street in Wahoo (402-443-3815), and York County's is at 510 North Lincoln Avenue in York (402-362-7111). Madison County's is at 104 South Main Street in Madison (402-454-3317). In Hall County, the Grand Island office is on South Locust Street.

Public Defender Questions Nebraska Residents Ask

Ask the judge at your first court appearance, or tell the county court clerk beforehand that you want to apply. You will normally complete a financial statement about your income, assets, and expenses, and the judge decides whether you qualify. If you are in custody, tell jail staff and repeat the request in court. In counties without a full-time office, the judge appoints a private attorney instead, who is paid by the county. Do not skip the application because you think you earn too much. Judges consider debts, family size, and the cost of defending the charge.

You can call, but most offices can only take clients after a court has appointed them. Staff may still explain how the process works, which court handles your matter, and where to apply. If police want to question you, you may say that you want a lawyer and stop answering questions. That right exists whether or not you can afford counsel. For a paid consultation on a case that has not yet been filed, the Nebraska State Bar Association's lawyer referral service can point you toward a private attorney.

The Federal Public Defender in Lincoln (402-437-5871) represents people charged with federal crimes in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska, such as certain drug trafficking, firearms, and fraud offences. County public defenders handle state charges in county and district courts. The listing for the Nebraska State Public Defender (855-664-9214) is at the same Lincoln address, so call to confirm which office handles your type of case. Choosing the wrong office costs time, so start with the charging document, which names the court and the prosecuting agency.

A single office cannot represent two people whose interests clash, such as co-defendants who blame each other. When that happens, the court appoints a different lawyer, often a private attorney under contract or, in some serious cases, the Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy. This is routine and does not mean your case is being handled badly. Your new lawyer will receive the file and should contact you soon. If you have heard nothing before your next hearing, contact the court clerk and the original office to confirm who is now your attorney.

Possibly. Appointed counsel starts without a fee, but Nebraska courts can order reimbursement from defendants who are found able to pay, in whole or in part. The judge usually looks at your finances at sentencing or at a later hearing. Do not assume the answer is no, and do not ignore a repayment order, because unpaid court debts can lead to further trouble. Ask your attorney how reimbursement has been handled in your county, and tell the court if your income drops so any payment plan can be adjusted.

You generally cannot choose which public defender is assigned, because the office or the judge makes the assignment. You can ask the court for a new lawyer if there is a real problem, such as a conflict, a breakdown in communication, or lack of preparation. Judges do not grant these requests lightly, so describe your concerns in specific terms and raise them politely at a hearing. Before that, try speaking with the attorney's supervisor or the office manager. If you can afford to hire a private lawyer, you may do so at any time.

Juvenile delinquency cases, where a minor is accused of breaking the law, generally allow appointed counsel. Courts also appoint lawyers in many abuse and neglect cases involving parents. Which office takes them varies by county, since some defenders cover juvenile court and others rely on separate appointed lawyers. Ask the juvenile court clerk who is assigned. Public defenders do not typically take civil matters such as divorce, landlord disputes, or debt collection. For those, Legal Aid of Nebraska is the usual starting point for people with limited income.