Trainer Biography
Mary Beth Wirkus
Mary Beth Wirkus is a Deputy Public Defender in San Diego County and is currently the Supervising Attorney of the Juvenile Delinquency Division of the Office of the Primary Public Defender. She has been serving the indigent of San Diego County (and briefly in Riverside County) providing needed legal defense for almost 30 years. In her practice she has represented youth and adults charged with every crime and violation in all stages of their case proceedings. For the past 15 years Ms. Wirkus has worked collaboratively with the County partners as a supervisor of both adult and juvenile divisions while teaching and mentoring attorneys and staff.
In 2005 she became the Supervisor of the Juvenile Branch of the San Diego County Office of the Alternate Public Defender. Her leadership included representing APD within the county and running both the Delinquency Division and the Primary Parent Office of the Dependency Division. In 2012 she transitioned back to adult practice and became the Supervisor of the Vista Branch of the Office of the Primary Public Defender.
In 2015 she became the Supervising Attorney of the Juvenile Delinquency Division of the Office of the Primary Public Defender. While overseeing juvenile defense practice for PPD she represents the Office of the Public Defender working collaboratively with County partners and community organizations committed to ensuring successful outcomes for all justice involved youth.
A lifelong San Diegan, Ms. Wirkus received her bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University and her Juris Doctor from Western State University College of Law in San Diego. She is a mother of two sons and three stepdaughters.