Carlos J. Martinez

Carlos J. Martinez is the first Hispanic elected Public Defender in United States history. He arrived in Miami from Cuba on a 1969 Freedom Flight. He worked his way through college managing gas stations, graduated from Florida International University in 1985 with a degree in Political Science, and earned his law degree from the University of Miami in 1990. He was elected Public Defender in 2008 and has been re-elected unopposed in 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024. He manages an office of approximately 400 employees handling over 70,000 cases annually.

The Public Defender for the 11th Judicial Circuit provides legal representation to indigent clients facing criminal charges in Miami-Dade County, from misdemeanors to capital offenses. The office handles approximately 70,000 cases per year and takes a holistic approach to defense, addressing not only legal needs but also mental health, substance abuse, and social service needs of clients. The Public Defender is a constitutional officer elected countywide every four years.