publicdefender.nashville.gov  
 Mission, Vision and Creed

Mission Statement

The Mission Of The Metropolitan Public Defender’s Office is To Provide Zealous Representation and To Fight For Equal Justice for The Indigent Accused.


Vision Statement

The Vision of the Metropolitan Public Defender's Office is that every client will receive high quality and zealous representation without regard to their economic or social situation and without regard to the nature of the accusations against them.


The Public Defender's Credo

I am a Public Defender
I am the guardian of the presumption of
innocence, due process and fair trial.
To me is entrusted the preservation
of those sacred principles.
I will promulgate them with courtesy and respect
but not with obsequiousness and not with fear.
For I am partisan; I am counsel for the defense.
Let none who oppose me forget that
With every fibre of my being I will
fight for my clients.
My clients are the indigent accused,
They are the lonely, the friendless.
My voice will be raised in their defense.
I will resolve all doubt in their favor.
This will be my credo; this and the Golden Rule.
I will seek acclaim and approval
only from my own conscience. And upon
my death, if there are a few lonely people who have benefited,
my efforts will not have been in vain.

Jim Doherty
Public Defender
Chicago, Illinois




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Suite 2022, Parkway Towers Building
404 James Robertson Parkway Nashville, TN 37219
Phone - 615.862.5730 | Fax - 615.862.5736