Welcome to the web site for the Office of the Public Defender for the 10th Judicial Circuit of Florida. We have been proudly serving the people of Polk, Hardee and Highlands Counties in central Florida since 1963.

In the following pages we will attempt to provide you with some insight into the vital role of public defenders in our uniquely American system of criminal justice as well as a brief history of our office. We have also included some helpful tips and links to other informative sites should you ever find yourself or someone close to you involved in our legal system. We hope you find this information both informative and helpful.

Howard ‘Rex’ Dimmig
 Public Defender
 10th Judicial Circuit of Florida