The Public Defender Association of San Diego County is a nonprofit mutual benefit corporation organized under the laws of California on December 24, 1996. The PDA represents the interests of over 250 Deputy Public Defenders and Deputy Alternate Public Defenders who provide high quality indigent legal defense in San Diego County.

The Public Defender Association of San Diego County was formed with the specific purposes to:

• Promote high quality indigent legal defense and to ensure the most effective legal services to clients;
• Provide continuing legal education to and aid in the development of high professional standards of its members;
• Improve the economic and professional standing of its members and to promote and maintain an organization for the mutual advancement and welfare of its members by all proper, suitable and lawful means;
• Provide a forum for its member to express and effectuate member attitudes, opinions and determinations;
• Promote fairness in and increase public awareness of the criminal justice system; and to foster a spirit of goodwill among its members and to promulgate ethical practices in their relationship with each other and the public, to the end that all interests may be served fairly; and to
• Aid and assist the members in all proper ways relative to matters affecting their welfare and advancement.