Kitsap County Commissioners announce the appointment of Steven M. Lewis as chief public defender of the Kitsap County Office of Public Defense. 

Utilizing a combination of in-house and contract attorneys, the Office of Public Defense, a division of the Department of Administrative Services, provides attorneys to represent individuals charged with felony crimes as well as misdemeanors and juvenile cases, dependencies and civil contempt hearings

“We are so pleased to have Steve take the helm of our Office of Public Defense,” said Amber D’Amato, director of Administrative Services. “He brings extensive experience and is well respected by the Kitsap legal community. He has ensured a seamless transition as interim chief, following Kevin Anderson’s retirement in December, and we are excited to have him lead the office.”

Mr. Lewis holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and history and juris doctor from the University of Washington. He began his career as an associate with the Port Orchard law firm Crawford, McGilliard, Peterson, Yelish and Dixon, working primarily as a contract public defender for Kitsap County. In 2010, when the Kitsap County Office of Public Defense was created, he was one of the first attorneys the county hired as a felony-level public defender. He worked briefly as a deputy prosecutor and then was hired once again as supervisor in the Office of Public Defense.