Ottawa County has launched its Public Defender Office with the hiring of Robert Hamilton in October 2018. In 2013, the Michigan legislature created the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) after an advisory commission recommended improvements to the state's legal system. The MIDC works to ensure the state's public defense system is fair, cost-effective and constitutional while simultaneously protecting public safety and accountability.
At the end of 2017, each Michigan county was required to submit to the MIDC a plan for compliance with the first four approved minimum standards for indigent criminal defense services. A final plan for Ottawa County was approved in June 2018. The new Public Defender Office will become fully operational by April 2019.
If you are interested in working in the new Public Defender Office, please check our Employment Opportunities web page frequently.
Key Documents:
- Ottawa County's Approved MIDC Compliance Plan
- MIDC Standards (Approved Standards 1-4 and Proposed Standards 5-8)
- MIDC Billing Form [in-process] - The MIDC is continuing to develop this form. Until the form is complete and provided to Ottawa County, attorneys may continue to submit bills to Ottawa County using their current billing method.
For more information about the MIDC, please visit the MIDC website.
GRAND HAVEN
1111 Fulton Street
Grand Haven, MI 49417
(616) 393-4463
(616) 846-8377
- Nichole Jongsma-Derks, Public Defender
- Philip R. Sielski, Chief Assistant Public Defender
- Christine Tober, Assistant Public Defender III
- Matthew Hall, Assistant Public Defender II
- Emily Dykhuizen, Assistant Public Defender I
- Lauren Dye, Assistant Public Defender I
- Jeremy Baier, Assistant Public Defender I (616) 393-4497
- Jeanna Johnson, Office Coordinator
- Cherie Dougherty, Legal Assistant I (616) 846-8396
- Morgan Wadlow, Legal Assistant I (616) 846-8399
- Joshua Jones, Lead Legal Investigator
- Christoph Schuerch, Social Worker
HOLLAND
12185 James Street, Suite 170
Holland, MI 49424
(616) 393-4463
(616) 393-4479
- Nichole Jongsma-Derks, Public Defender
- Anna C. White, Assistant Public Defender III
- Abraham Gonzales, Assistant Public Defender III
- Ryan Seale, Assistant Public Defender III
- Brandon Barthelemy, Assistant Public Defender II
- Patrick Kolehouse, Assistant Public Defender II
- Christopher Langholz, Assistant Public Defender II
- Alec Hay, Assistant Public Defender I
- Jonathan Pyle, Assistant Public Defender I
- Kristin Sage, Assistant Public Defender I
- Andrew Villanueva, Assistant Public Defender I
- Jeanna Johnson, Office Coordinator
- Melissa Payton, Legal Assistant II | (616) 846-8399
- Deborah Parker, Legal Assistant II | (616) 393-4428
- Sorin Panainte, Assistant Public Defender I
- Rachel Ibarra, Social Worker
- Ramon Soto-Lopez, Legal Investigator
- Monette (Maria) Pearl, Legal Clerk (616) 393-4463