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San Mateo, California · County government

San Mateo County Private Defender Program

Find county public defense office information and referral channels.

Source checked October 26, 2026[1]
Go to the official website (opens in a new tab)
Website address
pdpsmcba.org

Opens this office’s own website. CountyWiki does not process applications, take payments or provide personal records.

Contact details & office locations ↓
County public-defense programme delivered by the San Mateo County Bar Association as managed assigned counsel. This is not a county-staffed public defender office or a new independent government identity. Appointment and financial eligibility are determined through the Superior Court.

Online services & information

Use the links below for official services and provider information. Check each service’s instructions and service area.

Private Defender Program — San Mateo assigned counsel (opens in a new tab)[2]Official instructions

Read the Bar Association’s managed assigned counsel programme information. The Superior Court appoints the programme for financially eligible individuals; this is not a county-staffed defender office.

Before you start

Eligibility & access · San Mateo Private Defender Program — financial eligibility and court appointment
The PDP is appointed by the San Mateo County Superior Court to represent financially eligible individuals at public expense. [3]
Managed assigned counsel after court appointment — San Mateo (opens in a new tab)[4]Official instructions

Read the actual provider’s instructions. Managed assigned counsel after court appointment. Appointment and qualification are determined through the stated court process; the provider’s other services are not inferred from this selection.

Before you start

Eligibility & access · Managed assigned counsel after court appointment; exact provider-specific appointment instructions
When the court appoints a private defender, the case will be sent to the PDP and we will assign you an attorney. [5]

Fees

Fees are quoted only when a source document supports the amount and conditions.

Fee amounts have not been reviewed for this office.

Check the official website for its current fee schedule. No fee should be assumed to be free.

Forms & documents

Official forms and document pages for this office’s services.

Forms have not been reviewed yet. Visit the official website for the current forms and instructions.

Sources & last checked2 source pages · 5 citations

Sources were checked by an AI-assisted research process. A checked website does not mean every service or fee on it has been reviewed.

  1. [1] San Mateo County Bar Association Private Defender Program — defense (opens in a new tab)

    San Mateo County Bar Association Private Defender Program · San Mateo County Private Defender — Actual office or programme identity
    Source reviewed October 26, 2026

    View supporting excerpt
    San Mateo County Bar Association’s Private Defender Program (PDP) was established in 1969 to provide high-quality, zealous legal representation for clients charged with crimes in San Mateo County who cannot afford an attorney. Overseen by a 15-member Board of Directors, we are a “Managed Assigned Counsel” (MAC) program committed to client centered holistic representation.
  2. [2] San Mateo County Bar Association Private Defender Program — defense (opens in a new tab)

    San Mateo County Bar Association Private Defender Program · San Mateo County Private Defender — Court appointment and programme delivery
    Source reviewed October 26, 2026

    View supporting excerpt
    The PDP is appointed by the San Mateo County Superior Court to represent financially eligible individuals at public expense.
  3. [3] San Mateo County Bar Association Private Defender Program — defense (opens in a new tab)

    San Mateo County Bar Association Private Defender Program · San Mateo County Private Defender — San Mateo Private Defender Program — financial eligibility and court appointment
    Source reviewed October 26, 2026

    View supporting excerpt
    The PDP is appointed by the San Mateo County Superior Court to represent financially eligible individuals at public expense.
  4. [4] San Mateo County Private Defender Program — public defense information (opens in a new tab)

    San Mateo County Private Defender Program · FAQ | San Mateo County Private Defender — Actual public-defense public instructions
    Source reviewed October 26, 2026

    View supporting excerpt
    When the court appoints a private defender, the case will be sent to the PDP and we will assign you an attorney.
  5. [5] San Mateo County Private Defender Program — public defense information (opens in a new tab)

    San Mateo County Private Defender Program · FAQ | San Mateo County Private Defender — Managed assigned counsel after court appointment; exact provider-specific appointment instructions
    Source reviewed October 26, 2026

    View supporting excerpt
    When the court appoints a private defender, the case will be sent to the PDP and we will assign you an attorney.
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