Appellate Panel for the Maryland Office of the Public Defender (OPD)

The Maryland Office of the Public Defender (OPD) was established on July 1, 1971, by the Maryland Legislature, following the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in Gideon v. Wainwright (1963), which guaranteed the right to an attorney for defendants who could not afford one. OPD is an independent state agency, led by a Public Defender appointed by a 13-member Board of Trustees. OPD has district offices in every county and the City of Baltimore, providing defense in felony, misdemeanor, traffic, and juvenile delinquency cases. Additionally, it has specialized divisions for appeals, post-conviction, parental defense, mental health, and innocence projects. OPD also supports public defenders through divisions focusing on forensic services, mental health, immigration, and social work.