txe.fd.orgWelcome to Office of the Federal Public Defender - Eastern District of Texas | Office of the Federal

CJA Resources Helpful Links Training Client Resources Information for Federal Criminal Defendants Office Directory Tyler Division Beaumont Division Sherman Division Frisco Division Employment Announcements Contact Office of the Federal Public Defender - Eastern District of TexasWelcome to Office of the Federal Public Defender - Eastern District of Texas The United States Supreme Court established an indigent defendant’s right to legal counsel in Federal Courts in 1938. Johnson v. Zerbst, 304 U.S. 458 (1938). To satisfy the requirement, federal District Judges appointed lawyers for indigent defendants, without pay or even reimbursement for expenses. The appointed lawyers were often inexperienced in criminal law. The Criminal Justice Act of 1964 (CJA) was enacted to provide payment for appointed lawyers and to create a core of full-time Federal Public Defenders, with skills equal to those of federal prosecutors. In response to the Criminal Justice Act, the federal judiciary created the Federal Defender Services program. Approximately 85 percent of all criminal cases prosecuted in federal courts require appointed legal counsel. The Defender Services Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States Footnote provides overall policy direction and guidance of the program, and the Defender Services Division provides administrative and program support. Tyler 110 N. College Ste. 1122 Tyler , TX 75702 Phone: (903) 531-9233 Fax: (903) 531-9625 Beaumont 350 Magnolia Street Ste. 117 Beaumont , TX 77701 Phone: (409) 839-2608 Fax: (409) 839-2610 Sherman 600 E. Taylor Street Ste. 4000 Sherman , TX 75090 Phone: (903) 892-4448 Fax: (903) 892-4808 Frisco 7460 Warren Parkway Ste. 270 Frisco , TX 75034 Phone: (469) 362-8506 Fax: (469) 362-6010 Geographical Information about the Eastern District of Texas The Eastern District of Texas contains 43 counties and covers in excess of 50,000 square miles. There are a total of 8 District Judges and 8 Magistrate Judges. The Federal Public Defender’s Office has fully staffed operations in Beaumont, Sherman, Frisco, and Tyler, Texas. Division cities within the Eastern District of Texas are Beaumont, Lufkin, Marshall, Sherman, Texarkana, and Tyler. The Eastern District also has a courthouse in Plano Texas as a place to hold court for the Sherman Division. This web site is designed for general information only. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client...