Michael Hunt, Chief Public Defender
Admitted to the Indiana Bar in 1969. Engaged in private practice in Indianapolis, Indiana until joining the Monroe County Prosecutor’s office as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney from 1970-1972.  In 1972, the Tippecanoe County Public Defender’s office was established, with Mr. Hunt as the Chief Public Defender.  In March 1973, the Monroe County Public Defender Office was established, and Mr. Hunt has been the Chief Public Defender since that time.

Stuart Baggerly, Deputy Public Defender
Received his JD in 1989 from the University of Indiana Law School.  Admitted to the Indiana Bar in 1990.  Joined the Monroe County Public Defender Office in 2000.  Mr. Baggerly received his BA degree in Sociology from Indiana University in 1984.  Mr. Baggerly has extensive trial experience having practiced as Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in both Owen and Morgan counties for 3 years.

Phyllis Emerick, Deputy Public Defender
Admitted to the Indiana Bar in 1985; also admitted to practice before U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana.  Joined the Monroe County Public Defender Office in 1992.

Tonja Kinder, Deputy Public Defender
Admitted to the Indiana Bar in 1991.  Ms. Kinder worked in private practice from 1991 to 1993, and as a part-time Deputy Prosecuting Attorney handling child support cases.  From 1993-2002, she worked for the Family and Social Services Administration in the Marion County Office of Family and Children doing Child in Need of Services and termination of the parent-child relationship cases.  Ms. Kinder joined the Monroe County Public Defender Office in 2002.

Kara Krothe, Deputy Public Defender
Received a BA from Smith College and a JD from the Indiana University School of Law-Bloomington..  Joined the Monroe County Public Defender Office January, 2004.

Derrick Mason, Deputy Public Defender
Received both his BS and JD from Indiana University-Bloomington.  He has worked in private practice in Lake County, and was the Staff Attorney for the Monroe County Department of Child Services prior to joining the Monroe County Public Defender Office in 2007.

Jason Meredith, Deputy Public Defender
Received a BA from Indiana University and a JD from the Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis.  Joined the Monroe County Public Defender Office in 2001.

Patrick Schrems, Deputy Public Defender
Graduated from Indiana University School of Law, Bloomington in 1983, admitted to the Indiana Bar in 1983.  Previously served as deputy public defender from 1983-1994.  From 1994-1999, he served as a deputy prosecutor for Monroe County.  From 1999-2001, he was the interim director of the Child Advocacy Clinic at Indiana University School of Law.  From 2002-2008, he was in private practice and served as a contract public defender in Marion County and Morgan County.  Rejoined the office in 2008.

Michael Spencer, Chief Deputy Public Defender
Born in Caracas, Venezuela.  He received a BS from Indiana University in 1970 and a JD from the Indiana University School of Law in 1973. That same year he was admitted to the Indiana Bar and to practice before the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana.  He has been with the Monroe County Public Defender Office since 1991.

Rob Springston, Deputy Public Defender
Received his BA in Economics from Indiana University- Bloomington in 1997.  After graduating in 2002 with a JD from Indiana University - Indianapolis, Mr. Springston was admitted to the Illinois Bar.  He spent the next five years working for the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender in Chicago.  After being admitted to the Indiana Bar, he moved back to Bloomington in 2008 and joined the Monroe County Public Defender Office.   

SUPPORT STAFF

Deborah, Office Administrator
Joined the Monroe County Public Defender staff in 2000, with 2 years of undergraduate, as well as 30 years of clerical and administrative work experience.

Heather, Senior Legal Secretary
Joined the Monroe County Public Defender staff in 2009.

Michelle, Legal Secretary

Rebecca, Legal Secretary

Cindy,  Sr. Paralegal
Received a BA in Sociology from St. Joseph's College and a JD from the Indiana University School of Law - Bloomington.  Before studying law, she worked as a probation officer, and community resource specialist.

Rebecca, Paralegal
Received a JD from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2009 and is a PhD Candidate in Anthropology at Indiana University--Bloomington. She was admitted to the Indiana Bar in November 2009. Previous employment includes developing and teaching undergraduate anthropology courses at IU and work on a U.S. Geological Survey knowledge organization scheme for scientific information about marine and coastal environments.

Rex, Investigator

Deke, Investigator
Received a B.A. in Geography from Indiana University in 1999.  Subsequently has earned 52 hours in post-graduate work in Criminal Justice also from Indiana University.  Work related experience includes Monroe County Community Corrections (House Arrest Officer, Juvenile); Correctional Counselor (Indiana Boys' School, Indiana D.O.C.), Captain, Operational Support Services, Indiana D.O.C.; Correctional Officer, Monroe County Correctional Center; and associate instructor in criminal justice at Indiana University.
 

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