Official Government Website

Institutional Offices

When Governor Brad Little and the Idaho Legislature created the State Public Defender (SPD) office in 2023, 14 counties had established public defender offices. Those offices were staffed and paid for by the boards of county commissioners and had established personnel and infrastructure. Those offices – and employees – are now part of the SPD. Counties no longer pay for or manage public defense.

The SPD currently has institutional public defense offices in 18 Idaho counties: Ada, Bannock, Blaine, Bonner, Bonneville, Canyon, Gooding, Jefferson, Kootenai, Twin Falls, Shoshone, Benewah, Elmore, and Jerome. The counties of Minidoka and Cassia – and Power and Oneida – are combined offices.

Institutional offices are run by managing/lead attorneys and are staffed with trial attorneys, investigators, and support staff. Employees of the institutional offices work with the District Public Defenders in each of Idaho’s seven judicial districts and executive staff at the State Public Defender office.

Here is the contact information for the institutional county offices.

Ada County Main Office: 200 W. Front St., Suite 1107, Boise, ID, 83702. Phone # (208) 605-4800. Fax # (208) 917-4879. The Managing Attorney is Monica Gray.

Ada County Juvenile Office: 6300 Denton St., Boise, ID 83704. Phone # (208) 605-4910. Fax # (208) 917-4881.

Bannock County Main Office: 353 N. 4th Ave., Pocatello, ID, 83201. Phone # (208) 701-7355. Fax # (208) 840-7641. The Managing Attorney is Ashley LaVallee.

Benewah County Main Office: 222 S. 7th St., Suite G33, St. Maries, ID 83861. Phone # (208) 245-2521. Fax # (208) 215-3350. The Lead Attorney is Clayton Andersen.

Blaine County Main Office: 206 S. 1st Ave., Suite 101 Hailey, ID 83333. Phone # (208) 806-7700. Fax # (208) 913-3736. The Lead Attorney is Richard Roats.

Bonner County Main Office: 123 S. 1st Ave., Sandpoint, ID 83864. Phone # (208) 920-6530. Fax # (208) 920-5100. The Managing Attorney is Catherine Enright.

Bonneville County Main Office: 510 D. St., Idaho Falls, ID 83402. Phone # (208) 701-7300. Fax # (208) 534-6474. The Managing Attorney is Jason Gustaves.

Canyon County Main Office: 111 N. 11th Ave., Suite 120, Caldwell, ID 83605. Phone # (208) 605-4920. Fax # (208) 795-1371. The Managing Attorney is Erik Ellis.

Elmore County Main Office: 295 N. 2nd E St., Suites 103 and 104. Mountain Home, ID 83647. Phone # (208) 805-1500. Fax # (208) 696-0126. 4th District Public Defender Anthony Geddes acts as managing attorney for the Elmore office.

Gooding County Main Office: 145 7th Ave. East, Gooding, ID 83330. Phone # (208) 644-7145. Fax # (208) 944-6300. The Lead Attorney is Peter Hatch.

Jefferson County Main Office: 210 Courthouse Way, Suite 90, Rigby, ID 83442. Phone # (208) 701-7345. Fax # (208) 745-2461. The Lead Attorney is John Stosich.

Jerome County Main Office: 154 1st Avenue West, Suite A, Jerome, ID 83338. Phone # (208) 644-7180. Fax # (208) 293-8867. The Managing Attorney is Michelle Agee.

Minidoka/Cassia Counties Main Office: 2271 Overland Ave, Suite # 7, Burley, ID, 83318. Phone # (208) 647-7500. Fax # (208) 808-2354. The Managing Attorney is Joseph Hurley.

Kootenai County Main Office: 1450 Northwest Blvd., Suite 301, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814. Phone # (208) 415-3800. Fax # (208) 626-4199. The Managing Attorney is Ben Onosko.

Power/Oneida Counties Main Office: 543 Bannock Ave., American Falls, ID 83211. Phone # (208) 701-7335. Fax # (208) 534-6132. The Lead Attorney is Michael Morrissey.

Shoshone County Main Office: 401 7th St. Wallace, ID 83873. Phone # (208) 784-6040. The Lead Attorney is Trish Espeland.

Twin Falls County Main Office: 233 Gooding St. North, Twin Falls, ID 83301. Phone # (208) 644-7111. Fax # (208) 944-6900. The Managing Attorney is David Stewart.

Twin Falls County Secondary Office/Juvenile Court Services: 650 W. Addison Ave. West, Twin Falls, ID 83301. Phone # (208) 644-7170. Fax # (208) 944-6900.

District Public Defenders

Idaho is separated into seven geographical judicial districts.

District Public Defender Jay Logsdon (Jay.Logsdon@spd.idaho.gov) manages the 1st Judicial District, which is comprised of Boundary, Bonner, Kootenai, Benewah, and Shoshone Counties.

District Public Defender Joanna McFarland (Joanna.McFarland@spd.idaho.gov) manages the 2nd Judicial District, which is comprised of Latah, Nez Perce, Clearwater, Idaho, and Lewis counties.

District Public Defender Isaiah Govia (Isaiah.Govia@spd.idaho.gov) manages the 3rd Judicial District, which is comprised of Adams, Washington, Payette, Gem, Canyon, and Owyhee counties.

District Public Defender Anthony Geddes (Anthony.Geddes@spd.idaho.gov) manages the 4th Judicial District, which is comprised of Valley, Boise, Ada, and Elmore counties.

District Public Defender Ben Andersen (Benjamin.Andersen@spd.idaho.gov) manages the 5th Judicial District, which is comprised of Camas, Blaine, Gooding, Lincoln, Jerome, Minidoka, Cassia, and Twin Falls counties.

District Public Defender David Martinez (David.Martinez@spd.idaho.gov) manages the 6th Judicial District, which is comprised of Power, Oneida, Bannock, Caribou, Franklin, and Bear Lake counties.

District Public Defender Jordan Crane (JORDAN.CRANE@spd.idaho.gov) manages the 7th Judicial District, which is comprised of Lemhi, Custer, Butte, Clark, Fremont, Jefferson, Bonneville, Bingham, Madison, and Teton counties.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did employees in county institutional offices take a pay cut during the transition to the State Public Defender Office?

The Idaho Legislature appropriated $49 million to the SPD for fiscal year 2025. The SPD and Idaho’s Division of Human Resources (DHR) created a state-wide salary matrix. About 77% of oncoming SPD employees received a salary increase, 7% of employees’ salaries remained the same, and 15% of employees had a salary decrease from their former county pay rate.
Before the SPD took over public defense on Oct. 1, 2024, we found significant discrepancies in some rates across the state. The 2025 salary matrix leveled those out. The Legislature increased the SPD budget to $83 million for fiscal year 2026, which resulted in a new salary matrix that resulted in additional raises for the majority of SPD attorneys.

Do institutional offices use the new LegalServer Case Management System (CMS)?

Yes.  All lawyers and staff working on public defense in Idaho need to enter their cases into the LegalServer case management system. It is essential for every public defender in the State to use the same CMS.

How does the LegalServer CMS work?

The CMS is where the case file lives and will be a complete electronic file/record. Case notes, filings, discovery, etc., must be entered in the CMS contemporaneously.

Who troubleshoots IT problems with the SPD computers and equipment?

The Idaho Office of Information Technology Services (ITS) provides IT support for SPD equipment. ITS estimates that about 90% of all IT issues can be handled remotely. If in-person support is needed, ITS has employees throughout the state who can do in-person work.

Is the SPD hiring new lawyers and other employees?

Yes. We know how important it is to continue to bring in new talent.  Attorneys interested in applying for the SPD should check the State of Idaho jobs board  for current openings.

How does public defense for indigent people work in Idaho?

Find the answer to this and all of your other questions on our FAQ page.

Welcome to the new Idaho Public Defenders' Office Website!

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