Attorneys

The attorneys' role is identical to that of a privately retained attorney. Public Defenders are governed by the same regulations and ethical obligations as privately retained attorneys.

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.

Leneigha Downs, Deputy Public Defender
Received her JD in 1987 from the Indiana University School of Law in Bloomington, IN. Admitted to the Indiana Bar 1987. Served as Law Clerk to the Honorable V. Sue Shields and as Indiana Deputy Attorney General under Linley Pearson from 1991-1993. Admitted to the Missouri Bar in 1993. Served as Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Franklin County, Missouri from 1993-1995. Private practice criminal and civil law in Union, Missouri from 1995-2009. Served as the Municipal Judge for the City of Union, Missouri from 1997-2009. Joined the Monroe County Public Defender in 2009.

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.

Jeremy Noel, Deputy Public Defender
Received a B.A. in English from Purdue University and a J.D. from the Indiana University School of Law--Bloomington. Jeremy previously worked as a Paralegal in this office.

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.

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.