Dale Nielson, Public Defender
Peter A. Gersten, Deputy Public Defender
Peter Gersten graduated from Brooklyn Law School in 1970 and worked four years with
the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office. In 1974, Peter became the Executive Director
of the Victim/Witness Assistance Project─the first federally funded project that
helped victims and witnesses in the criminal courts in New York City. In 1977, Peter
entered private practice specializing in criminal matters, particularly homicides.
After 25 years of practice in New York City, Arizona beckoned him. He has been a
member of the Arizona State Bar since 1996. Peter’s special assignments include
coverage of the Winslow Justice Court and the development of a DWI Court.
Leornard Brown, Deputy Public Defender
Leonard G. Brown has been practicing criminal law since 1981. Initially in private
practice, Len later worked as a prosecutor with the Coconino County Attorney’s Office
in Flagstaff, Arizona, and most recently as a deputy public defender in Navajo County
prior to assuming his responsibilities as interim Public Defender. Len received
his juris doctorate from Southern University School of Law in Baton Rouge, Louisiana,
and later acquired his Master of Laws degree in Criminal Law from State University
of New York at Buffalo. While in New York, Len taught criminal justice classes and
directed the Criminal Justice majors program at State University of New York at
Fredonia. In addition to his full caseload of felony matters, Len covers the Holbrook
Justice Court and oversees the Office of the Public Defender.
Anna Atencio, Deputy Public Defender
Jon Saline, Deputy Public Defender
John McClung, Deputy Public Defender
Top of Page