Federal Public Defender

The Federal Public Defender Office of the Middle District of North Carolina operates under the authority of the Criminal Justice Act of 1964 (CJA), 18 U.S.C. § 3006A. The office provides defense services in federal criminal cases and other covered matters to individuals who are financially unable to obtain adequate legal representation. Eligibility for these services is determined by the federal court.

An office for the Middle District of North Carolina was approved in 1992, with William E. Martin appointed as its first Federal Defender. The office officially opened on May 3, 1993, initially operating from the U.S. Courthouse building in Greensboro. Louis C. Allen III later served as the Federal Public Defender until his retirement in July 2025. Eric D. Placke assumed the role of Federal Public Defender in August 2025.

The Federal Public Defender Office maintains a headquarters in Greensboro and a staffed branch office in Winston-Salem. The office currently employs ten attorneys and eleven support staff. It also conducts regular training programs, including annual CLE programs and seminars covering various topics relevant to federal criminal defense.