User:Nicholasearl/Nicholas (Nick) White

Nicholas (Nick) White is the Chief Public Defender for the Judicial Circuit of Houston County, Georgia. He took office on October 1, 2007 and succeeded long-time Public Defender Terry Everett.

PERSONAL BACKGROUND. White was born on February 2, 1968 and raised in Bleckley County, Georgia. He is the third child of Earl White and Peggy White and has two older brothers, John and Stephen. He was married to Lori Woods of Athens, Georgia on April 23, 2005 and they have one child, daughter Charlotte Ann White (Annie).

LEGAL BACKGROUND. White graduated from Walter F. George School of Law (Mercer) in May 1993 with a juris doctorate. From 1993 to 1994 he served as the law clerk for the Superior Court Judges of the Oconee Judicial Circuit. In 1994 he became an Associate Attorney for the general practicing law firm of Genelle Jennings and Associates in Hawkinsville, Georgia. With the Jennings firm White specialized in domestic law and private criminal defense. In 1997 White left Jennings and began a solo practice exclusive to criminal defense work. In this capacity he not only took private cases but served as the Public Defender for Pulaski County. In October 2001 closed his private practice and joined the Public Defender's Office in the Houston Judicial Circuit as an Assistant Public Defender under Chief Public Defender Terry Everett. He remained with that office until January 2005 when he took an Assistant Public Defender's position in the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit in the newly created state indigent defense system. When Everett announced her retirement in August 2007 White sought the position and was hired as the new Chief Public Defender, taking office in October 2007. At 39 White became one of the youngest Chief Public Defender's in the State of Georgia and only the fourth Chief Public Defender in the Houston office's 35 year history.

PUBLIC DEFENSE. A Public Defender's Office in Georgia is responsible for representing all indigent persons charged with either felony or misdemeanor acts prohibited by State law. An "indigent" person is someone who falls below certain financial guidelines and, thus, is considered by law unable to afford a private attorney. When someone is arrested and charged with a felony offense in Houston County he is seen by the Public Defense Coordinatior of Superior Court and questioned as to his financial status. If the person falls below said financial guideline he is then seen by an official with the Public Defender's Office and a file opened on his case. If the person arrested is charged only with misdemeanor offenses he is qualified by a member of the Public Defender's Office and, if found indigent, then interviewed by that office member and a file opened.

HOUSTON JUDICIAL CIRCUIT. The Office of the Public Defender for the Houston Judicial Circuit is only one of six "opt out" judicial circuits in the State of Georgia. An "opt out" circuit is one comprised of no more than one county, was operational before the state indigent defense system was approved and wished to continue operational and funding independence from the State. The Houston Office began in 1974 and is generally considered the "model" public defender's office for the State and nation. The Superior Court branch in Perry, Georgia has a staff of 8 attorneys, 5 administrative assistants, 1 investigator and 1 intern. This branch is responsible for all felony cases arising within Houston County. The State and Magistrate Court branch in Warner Robins, Georgia has a staff of 3 attorneys, 2 administrative assistants, 1 investigator and 1 intern. This branch is responsibile for all misdemeanor and traffic cases arising within Houston County. As Chief Public Defender White not only oversees the administrative duties of his office but represents the clients on the most serious violent felony cases.