South Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense

See Office LocationSCCID Public Defenders

In South Carolina, the Public Defender System is a county based system. The Bar Association of each county organizes a non profit corporation known as a Defender Corporation, elects members to its board of directors, and establishes a public defender office to serve that county. The Board of Directors is responsible for selecting the Public Defender who serves either at the pleasure of the Board or enters into a contract with the Board for a specific amount of time. The Defender Corporations are independent of the State but receive funding from the State via the Office of Indigent Defense, and from the local county. In some cases, the Bar Associations of two or more counties have joined to create a Corporation which serves their multiple counties.

Public Defenders
County	Attorney	Contact	Office
Dorchester	Mark A. Leiendecker Circuit Public Defender	Tel: 843-821-9800 Fax: 843-871-0523 Email Contact	Summerville
Dorchester	Mary Lematty	Tel: 843-821-9800 Fax: 843-871-0523 Email Contact	Summerville
Dorchester	Alvin Biggs	Tel: 843-821-9800 Fax: 843-871-0523 Email Contact	Summerville
Dorchester	Ash Chisholm	Tel: 843-821-9800 Fax: 843-871-0523 Email Contact	Summerville
Dorchester	Katherine Dahlheim	Tel: 843-821-9800 Fax: 843-871-0523 Email Contact	Summerville
Dorchester	Mitchell Farley	Tel: 843-821-9800 Fax: 843-871-0523 Email Contact	Summerville
Dorchester	John Loy Deputy Public Defender	Tel: 843-875-6111 Fax: 843-871-0523 Email Contact	Summerville
Dorchester	Gina McAlhamy Juvenile Public Defender	Tel: 843-832-8025 Fax: 843-875-5300 Email Contact	Summerville
Dorchester	Michelle Suggs	Tel: 843-821-9800 Fax: 843-871-0523 Email Contact	Summerville