The 19th Judicial Circuit has named Gregory Ticsay as the new public defender of Lake County, according to a news release.
He will be sworn in on Sept. 23. by Chief Judge Daniel Shanes.
“Greg has been a respected member of the Lake County legal community for nearly three decades,” Shanes said. “He has proven that he has and always will ensure his client’s rights are protected.
“The judges look forward to continued collaboration between the courts and our justice partners, including the Public Defender’s Office under Greg’s leadership, to ensure that justice is available to all,” the chief judge said.
Ticay replaces Joy Gossman, the first female and longest-serving public defender in Lake County history. Gossman retired in July after 37 years with the Public Defender’s Office, starting as an intern in 1987 and rising to chief public defender in 2007.
According to the release, Ticsay received his Juris Doctor from the John Marshall Law School and began his career with the Lake County Public Defender’s Office in 1995, serving for 29 years.
“During that time, he consistently demonstrates his commitment and dedication to the Public Defender’s Office and the needs of indigent defense,” the release said. “In addition to carrying his own caseload, he supervises and trains new assistant public defenders.”
Ticsay was a member of the capital litigation trial bar from 2002 until the abolishment of the death penalty in 2011. Ticsay was an attorney with Veterans Court, Therapeutic Intensive Monitoring Court, from its inception in 2011 until 2021.
The release said, “He has represented indigent criminal defendants charged with felony and misdemeanor charges from arraignments through the conclusion of cases with integrity.”
Ticsay said he was “deeply honored and excited” to be the next public defender.
“I am committed to continuing the legacy of my predecessors by providing the best legal representation to the indigent accused,” he said.
