Knox County Public Defenders Community Law Office 1101 Liberty Street, Knoxville, TN 37919

"First I would like to say that if I were rating my attorney Guy Tustin INDIVIDUALLY, I would give him 5 stars because he truly does the best job possible with what little resources he’s given. Guy treats his clients with the utmost respect, and he stands firm in his support and commitment to obtaining the best outcome possible. However, I could tell from speaking with his supervisor that she really was not interested in evaluating my case at the microscopic level that would’ve been necessary for a complete dismissal. Perhaps if she was paid more, she would become interested…but she definitely was not, These public defenders are here to help you plead, point blank. They are basically serving as agents who just go back & forth with the state to help you plead and serve your sentence so it can be over with. Each attorney has a workload that I would not consider reasonable, they have very little funding, and the CLO has lots of crazy “rules” that no private attorney would ever have to abide by. These rules really prevent the attorneys from being able to serve their clients in a comprehensive way. None of these attorneys have a direct phone number, and often times do not even have a secretary available to take messages. So get used to voicemails and phone tag. Also, the prosecutors are well aware of what few resources the CLO has, so forget about striking any fear in them or using an intimidating attorney as leverage for a better plea. If you want that, you need to hire a specialty attorney. Overall, I am very thankful Tustin was assigned to me and I would be happy to work with him in the future whenever he moves into the private sector…because the CLO is a joke."

"Çhris Irwin and his staff where excellent. I was very fortunate to have an attorney so devoted and understanding. I owe Chris my life."

"The receptionist is very rude when calling the office. She doesn't have very good social skills or manners. I was inquiring about which lawyer was on my husband's case so he could call from the jail too talk to his attorney and she cut me off and acted like I couldn't hear her as she continued to say "can you hear me, can you hear me, can you hear me" over me speaking to her because she didn't want to listen to what I was talking about. Very rude and condescending."

"In a situation with multiple charges and consequences I found this public defender's office to be professional, experienced and efficient as well thorough. Facing health issues, many complications and heavy penalties, our attorney Chris Irwin, I was able to negotiate a favorable, fair and just outcome inspiring a positive direction We will be forever grateful for the compassionate Justice and turning a situation around for an opportunity for a better future... it is more than I could ever have hoped for and certainly will not be forgotten."

"Known as Public pretenders on the inside. Jacob Fryer behaved one way and said one thing at the office then became on the side of police in court. Tried to pressure me into taking plea after I said I'll be guilty of all or guilty of none. Answering service is disrespectful and accusatory. As I spelled my name I was given the response I don't know what your problem is. Said public pretender sides with his staff on what they say. Won't see both sides. In the wrong business then. No mention of abuse of 911 charge when I went to Court. Police privilege sure is nice pressing charges then disappear at will."