Attorneys speak out against Lorain County public defender office plan that would replace court

ELYRIA, Ohio — Lorain County Commissioners are considering replacing court-appointed attorneys for low-income defendants with a county-run public defender office -- a move that could reshape how residents access legal representation when they cannot afford an attorney.

In a recent meeting, Commissioner David Moore, who initiated the review, cited the county’s $3.8 million spending on court-appointed attorneys in 2024. He argued that figure far exceeds what similarly sized counties spend when operating a public defender office and warned that rising case volumes and inflation could soon strain the county’s budget.

But for many local lawyers, the prospect of creating a new office has raised alarms.

Brandon Oliver, president of the Lorain County Bar Association, defended the current system