The Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel, Fifth District, is a state-appointed legal office providing court-appointed counsel to indigent clients in both criminal and civil matters across Central Florida. Established by legislative innovation in 2007, it operates as a cost-effective alternative when public defenders face conflicts of interest, ensuring constitutional rights are protected while managing taxpayer resources responsibly.
Led by Regional Counsel Jeffrey D. Deen, the Fifth District office serves the 5th, 7th, 9th, and 18th judicial circuits through seven physical locations. It specializes in handling complex, high-stakes cases—including death penalty appeals, dependency proceedings, and involuntary commitments—with a team of dedicated attorneys focused on delivering quality representation to vulnerable and low-income populations.
Services Offered
- Criminal Cases (when Public Defender has a conflict)
- Felony Cases
- Misdemeanor Cases
- Criminal Traffic Cases
- Criminal Contempt
- Violation of County or Municipal Ordinance
- Juvenile Delinquency
- Violation of Probation or Community Control
- Motions Seeking Correction, Reduction or Modification of a Sentence
- Motions Seeking Post-conviction Relief
- Appeals for Criminal Cases
- Death Penalty Appeals
- Civil Cases
- Dependency Cases
- Termination of Parental Rights
- Tuberculosis Control
- Guardian Advocate
- Marchman Act (Involuntary Commitment for Substance Abuse)
- Baker Act (Involuntary Commitment for Mental Health)
- Jimmy Ryce Act (Involuntary Commitment for Sexual Predators)
- Involuntary Commitment for Developmental Disabilities
- Adult Protective Services
- Disability of Nonage of Minors Removed
- Guardianship
- Children and Families in Need of Services
- Parental Notification Act Cases
- Adoption Proceedings Resulting from Termination of Parental Rights
- Appeals for Civil Matters
The office serves indigent residents across multiple counties including Brevard, Citrus, Flagler, Hernando, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Putnam, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, and Volusia. With a proven track record of saving taxpayers millions of dollars, it stands as a model of efficient, constitutionally sound indigent legal representation in the state of Florida.
