In this episode of Inside Pima County with Supervisor Rex Scott, we’re pleased to host a conversation with the head of Pima County’s Public Defense Services Department, Dean Brault. Dean has spent nearly three decades in public service as an attorney, administrator, and advocate, and we’re grateful to have him with us.

Public Defense Services performs duties that aren’t optional — they’re required to provide legal services under both Arizona law and the United States Constitution. As Dean explains, the right to legal representation for indigent individuals originates from foundational principles affirmed in landmark case, Gideon v. Wainwright. Those protections ensure that anyone facing prosecution has access to a lawyer regardless of their financial circumstances.

Dean walks us through his professional journey, beginning with his graduation from the University of Arizona College of Law in 1996. His career started here in Pima County as a law clerk and bailiff, followed by years of service as a public defender handling everything from misdemeanors to serious felonies. Over time, Dean became a trial team supervisor, then served as the county’s legal defender, and eventually stepped into his current leadership role overseeing Public Defense Services.

Dean breaks down the many divisions that fall under Public Defense Services, including the Public Defender’s Office, the Legal Defender’s Office, the Office of the Legal Advocate, the Office of Court Appointed Counsel, the Office of Children’s Counsel, the Mental Health Defender, the Public Fiduciary, and the administrative unit that ties them all together. Each division carries unique responsibilities—from criminal defense, to protecting the interests of children in dependency cases, to supporting vulnerable adults who have no one else to manage their affairs.

Dean offers insight into how cases are assigned, why conflicts of interest require multiple divisions and contract counsel, and how the department balances a wide array of constitutional duties with limited resources. He also highlights one of the department’s most impactful public-facing services: the Pima County Legal Clinic, which helps individuals take important steps after their cases conclude—restoring civil rights, sealing records, or addressing the long-term consequences of past convictions.

Above all, Dean emphasizes the dedication of the professionals who make up Public Defense Services. Their commitment ensures that every person entitled to representation receives high-quality advocacy during some of the most challenging moments of their lives.