# Defender Association of Philadelphia
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{{Short description|Non-profit corporation in Pennsylvania}}
{{Multiple issues|section=|
{{Update|inaccurate=yes|date=September 2025}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2025}}
}}
{{Infobox law firm
| name = Defender Association of Philadelphia
| logo =
| image_size =
| alt =
| headquarters = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| num_offices = 1
| num_partners =
| num_attorneys =
| num_employees =
| practice_areas = [Adult](/source/Trial_as_an_adult) and [juvenile](/source/Juvenile_court) state and [civil court](/source/Civil_law_(common_law)) hearings, [criminal mental health hearings](/source/Mental_health_court), and [child advocates](/source/Child_advocacy) for dependent and neglected children
| key_people = {{ubl|
* Paul J. Hetznecker, Esq., President
* Catherine M. Recker, Esq., Vice President
}}
| date_founded = {{start date|1934}}
| company_type = [Nonprofit corporation](/source/Nonprofit_corporation)
| traded_as =
| dissolved =
| website = {{URL|https://phillydefenders.org/}}
}}
'''Defender Association of Philadelphia''', founded in 1936, is a non-profit corporation, based in [Philadelphia, Pennsylvania](/source/Philadelphia%2C_Pennsylvania), that provides defense on a court-appointed basis for criminal and delinquency cases in which the defendants and respondents are indigent adults and juveniles.
It operates as a 501(c)(3) Public Charity. In 2023, it claimed $83,916,027 in revenue and $56,503,891 in total assets.[{{cite web |title=Defender Association of Philadelphia |url=https://app.candid.org/profile/7100529/defender-association-of-philadelphia-23-1445669 |website=candid.org |publisher=Candid. |access-date=23 March 2026}}]
== History ==
In 1990, the association appointed the first woman as chief in 56 years.[{{cite journal |last1=Kennedy |first1=Grace |title=WLJ Interview - Ellen T. Greenlee |journal=Women Lawyers Journal |date=1995 |volume=82 |pages=17 |url=https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/wolj82&div=8&id=&page= |access-date=23 September 2025}}][{{cite web|last1=Tulsky|first1=Fredric|title=Defender Association Appoints First Woman Chief In 56 Years|url=http://articles.philly.com/1990-10-31/news/25891092_1_defender-association-chairman-appointments|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018035533/http://articles.philly.com/1990-10-31/news/25891092_1_defender-association-chairman-appointments|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 18, 2015|publisher=Philly.com|accessdate=8 September 2016}}] She retired in 2014.[{{cite news |last1=Writer |first1=Chris Mondics, Inquirer Staff |title=Greenlee, chief of Defender Association, to retire in March |url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/business/20141210_Greenlee__chief_of_Defender_Association__to_retire_in_March.html |access-date=23 September 2025 |work=Inquirer.com |date=9 December 2014 |language=en}} {{subscription required}}]
In October 2001, the firm moved [Comcast Center (Philadelphia)](/source/Comcast_Center_(Philadelphia)) at 17th Street and [John F. Kennedy Boulevard](/source/Pennsylvania_Route_3).[{{cite journal | last=Holcomb | first=Henry J. | date=October 25, 2001 | title=Philadelphia's Public Defenders Get New Home; Site Free for Development | journal=The Philadelphia Inquirer }}] In 2015, Keir Bradford-Grey become head of the Association.[{{cite web|last1=McCrystal|first1=Laura|title=New chief of Defender Association of Philadelphia known for taking different approach|url=http://articles.philly.com/2015-08-11/news/65419437_1_federal-public-defender-defender-association-bradford-grey|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910150807/http://articles.philly.com/2015-08-11/news/65419437_1_federal-public-defender-defender-association-bradford-grey|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 10, 2015|publisher=philly.com|accessdate=8 September 2016}}]
== Notable people ==
*[C. Darnell Jones II](/source/C._Darnell_Jones_II), federal judge
*[Joseline Peña-Melnyk](/source/Joseline_Pe%C3%B1a-Melnyk), politician[{{cite web |title=Joseline A. Peña-Melnyk, Maryland State Delegate |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa14629.html |website=Maryland Manual On-Line |publisher=Maryland State Archives |access-date=December 19, 2025}}]
*[Abbe Smith](/source/Abbe_Smith), law professor
*[Gregory M. Sleet](/source/Gregory_M._Sleet), federal judge
*[Luis Felipe Restrepo](/source/Luis_Felipe_Restrepo), federal judge
*[Benjamin H. Read](/source/Benjamin_H._Read), politician
== Scholarship ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20190427080120/https://scholarship.law.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6080&context=penn_law_review |Client Service in a Defender Organization: The Philadelphia Experience]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20141008095547/http://scholarship.law.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=7053&context=penn_law_review |egal Aid to Indigent Criminal Defendants in Philadelphia and New Jersey]
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
Category:Criminal defense organizations
Category:Legal aid in the United States
Category:Organizations established in 1934
Category:Government of Philadelphia
Category:Crime in Philadelphia
Category:Organizations based in Philadelphia
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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Defender Association of Philadelphia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defender_Association_of_Philadelphia) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defender_Association_of_Philadelphia?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.