Amy Hoffman
Chief Deputy Public Defender
San Diego County Public Defender’s Office
Amy Hoffman is the Chief Deputy Public Defender with the San Diego County Public Defender’s Office and has dedicated the past 19 years to public defense. She began her career in the Central Misdemeanor Unit before serving in the Juvenile Branch and later joining a felony trial team representing clients charged with serious violent offenses. In 2015, she joined the Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) Unit, where she handled bench and jury trials and later served as the unit’s supervising attorney from 2018 to 2021.
In 2021, Amy transitioned to the Multiple Conflicts Office, representing clients in homicide cases involving co-defendants and special circumstances, and was appointed Chief of the office in 2023. She has also taught nationwide in collaboration with organizations including the National Institute for Trial Advocacy, the California Public Defenders Association, the National Immigration Project, and the New York State Defenders Association. Amy earned her B.A. from Indiana University and her J.D. from Thomas Jefferson School of Law.