Public Defense

Request for Proposal

The City of Burlington is seeking to contract legal services for Conflict Counsel when the primary provider is unable to provide counsel.  Download Request for Proposal for more info.

Asking for a Public Defense Attorney

If you want to have an attorney assist or advise you but cannot afford to hire one, one can be appointed to represent you at public expense if your offense is punishable by a jail sentence. There are two ways to ask for an attorney:

  1. On your first court date listed on your citation, which is called an arraignment, the judge will ask if you would like to have an attorney represent you at public defense. If you respond yes, you will then be screened by the public defense screener immediately after your hearing.
  2. Before your court date you may call the City of Burlington Public Defense Screening number at 360-708-0045 on Monday-Wednesday and Friday 8:00am-12:00pm or Thursday 11:00am-3:00pm to hear about ways to be screened before your court date. You can also leave a message at this number and the Public Defense Program Assistant will call you back.

Public Defense Attorneys

Burlington’s Public Defense firm is North County Public Defense - Skagit.

Phone number: (360) 684-3062
Fax number: (360) 393-4823

Bellingham Address: 1720 Iowa St, Bellingham, WA 98229
Skagit Address: 496 Fashion Way Burlington, WA 98233

See a map of the North County Public Defense - Skagit office location. See the schedule and map of bus routes from Burlington to the North County Public Defense - Skagit office.

Public Defense Standards

The City of Burlington has adopted public defense standards. Read them in English (PDF). View a Spanish version.

Forms

The City of Burlington has a Public Defense Complaint Form that can be filled out and mailed in. Public Defense Complaint Form. 

Burlington Municipal Court

The Burlington Municipal Court is located at 311 Cedar Street, Burlington WA 98233. Contact Information is as follows:

Phone number: (360) 755-0492
Fax number: (360) 755-2391
Email: bcourts@burlingtonwa.gov

There is free parking at the Burlington Municipal Court. The Burlington Municipal Court is served by Skagit Transit bus routes 208 and 300. View bus route maps and schedules.

For further information regarding the Burlington Municipal Court click here.