Juvenile Division Public Defender Attorneys
Susan Kelly
Susan is a graduate of the University of Arizona College Of Law, 1988. She was admitted to the State Bar of Arizona, 1989, The United States District Court of Arizona in 1989, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in 1990. She was an attorney in a private Arizona federal and state criminal defense firm, 1990-1993; an independent criminal Appeals attorney, 1993-1995; pro bono Immigration attorney with Southern Arizona Legal Aid, 1989-1995. She became a member of the Pima County Public Defender in 1995 and has handled cases in the Misdemeanor, Felony, Appeals and Juvenile Divisions.
Languages: Spanish
Eva Bacal
Eva is a graduate of the University Of Arizona College Of Law, 1990; admitted to the State Bar of Arizona, 1991, the United States District Court of Arizona, 1992, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, 1993. She worked as an Arizona Assistant Attorney General, 1991-2004 and has been with the Pima County Public Defender’s Office since 2004.
Fred Kay
Fred was admitted to the Arizona Bar in 1969 and to the Arizona U.S. District Court, 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and Supreme Court Bars. He was a Pima County Public Defender in 1970-1972 before going to the Federal Public Defender 1972-2004. He returned to the Public Defender’s Office in 2005.
Michele Robbins
Michele is a graduate of the University of Arizona, College of Law, 1993; admitted to the State Bar of Arizona, 1993. She was a judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Margaret M. Houghton, 1994-1995; and Arizona Assistant Attorney General, 1998-1999; rejoined the Pima County Public Defender in 2001. She has substantial experience representing minors at all stages of delinquency proceedings.
Anthony Zinman
Anthony is a graduate of Whittier College School of Law, 1992; Associate attorney in a private Washington state family law firm from 1994-1996. He became a Public Defender in North Central Washington from 1996-2007 where he had substantial and extensive experience in the areas of juvenile dependency, delinquency and appellate law. He has been a Public Defender with the Juvenile Division since 2007.
Samuel Jurgena
Graduate of the City University of New York School of Law in 2017; B.A. from Iowa State University, 2013. Admitted to the State Bar of Arizona in 2018. Law Clerk to the Honorable Joan L. Wagener of the Pima County Superior Court. He has been a Public Defender with the Juvenile Division since 2018.
About Us
The Juvenile Division of the Pima County Public Defender represents persons under the age of 18 years who are charged with delinquent offenses in Pima County. We represent over 4,500 minors a year whose families cannot afford to hire legal counsel. Our office is comprised of a team of professionals dedicated to defending the rights of youth. We currently employ 9 attorneys and a legal staff that includes Legal Secretaries and Clerks, Criminal Investigators, Social Workers, and Legal Interns.
Mission Statement
To provide legal representation to all children that is individualized, developmentally appropriate, age appropriate, and free of racial, ethnic, gender, social, and economic bias. To recognize that all children have strengths and the potential to become productive members of society and that each has the right to constitutional and statutory protections.
Our Goals
To develop our capacity and leadership
To demonstrate a commitment to professionalism
To promote accountability and bring about reform in the juvenile justice system, and
To enhance our role in the justice system through collaboration and greater community involvement.