Public Defender

The Public Defender’s Office handles criminal cases in State Court and Superior Court. Defendants with a juvenile case should contact Juvenile Court for assistance. The Public Defender does not handle civil cases and does not take traffic court cases.

To determine if someone is eligible for assistance through the Public Defender’s Office, they must come in, in person, for assessment. Eligibility is determined by income.

The Public Defender is appointed by the Chief Superior Court Judge.  The Public Defender is Gina Bernard.

Please call the office to make an appointment for an assessment to assure an attorney is available.

Gina Bernard

Gina Bernard was appointed Circuit Public Defender for the Rockdale Judicial Circuit on December 18, 2023. Prior to her appointment, Ms. Bernard served as the Managing Attorney for the East Metro Regional Alternate Public Defender.

Ms. Bernard graduated from Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL with a B. Sc in Hospitality Administration, and from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA with a B.A. in Finance.  She graduated from Georgia State University College of Law in 1997.

Ms. Bernard served as a prosecutor in the City of Atlanta Solicitor’s Office, the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office & the DeKalb County Solicitor’s office.  She spent six years in private practice before joining the Georgia Public Defender Council in July of 2011.

She has prosecuted and defended numerous cases ranging from City Ordinance violations to major felonies such as Murders & Armed Robbery cases.

Ms. Bernard has two adult children, both of whom are currently attending college.