Delaware County Council Names Taylor Dunn Public Defender
Dunn spent the last five months as interim and brings 15+ years of experience working in the office serving Delco residents
Media, PA — At Tuesday’s Delaware County Personnel Board meeting, Taylor Dunn was named Delaware County Public Defender after serving as interim for the last five months.
“I’m thrilled to continue leading this team that advocates for our residents every day and brings justice to Delaware County,” said Dunn. “I want to thank Council for having faith in me to lead this office and I look forward to continuing the progress we’ve made in my first few months in the role.”
Since joining the Office of the Public Defender in 2014 as an intern, Dunn has served in a variety of roles, working his way to an executive leadership position. In his most recent role, he served as the Deputy Public Defender, where he oversaw the office’s litigation divisions and led a team of managing attorneys responsible for adult trial, major felony, mental health, pretrial, and appellate practice.
A lifelong Public Defender, Dunn has litigated thousands of criminal matters, from misdemeanor offenses to homicide cases, while championing holistic client representation and innovative approaches to indigent defense. Throughout his career, he has supervised high-volume litigation teams, trained more than 30 new Public Defenders, and helped modernize the office through professionalism, strategic partnerships, and leadership development.
Dunn is committed to leading an office that works to transform the criminal legal system in ways that increase public safety and foster healthy communities by supporting people on the margins, providing healing for those experience harm, and expanding access to justice and services for everyone.
“The dedication Mr. Dunn has shown to Delaware County residents and the Office of the Public Defender throughout his career makes him the perfect candidate for this role,” said Delaware County Council Chair Richard Womack. “Council is honored to appoint Mr. Dunn as Delaware County Public Defender and we look forward to working with him to continue delivering for the residents of Delaware County.”
A recognized leader in Pennsylvania’s public defense community, Dunn served as President of the Delaware County Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers from 2024 to early 2026 and serves as a trainer for the Public Defender Association of Pennsylvania.
Dunn is a graduate of Loyola University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Arts in both Psychology and Philosophy and earned a Juris Doctor from Widener University Delaware Law School. Outside of the courtroom, he remains committed to serving the residents of Delaware County by serving as a member of Media Borough Council.
The Delaware County Office of the Public Defender provides legal representation to those accused of crimes in Delaware County who cannot afford a private attorney, representing thousands of clients each year and practicing in the District Justice Courts, the Court of Common Pleas, and the Appellate Courts of Pennsylvania. The Office of the Public Defender also represents those charged with contempt in Family Court who face the threat of incarceration and youth facing accusations in the Juvenile Court of Delaware County.
To learn more about the Delaware County Office of the Public Defender, visit delcopa.gov/delco-defenders
To contact the office, please call 610-891-4100.