Chief Felony Defender

Jaya Varghese is a graduate of the University Of Toledo College Of Law.  She received her Bachelor of Science degree and Masters of Science Degree from Wayne State University.  Ms. Varghese joined the Will County Public Defender’s Office in 2005 and was assigned to the Aggravated Traffic and Misdemeanor Division.  In 2007, she was promoted to the Felony Division where she handled several felony jury and bench trials.

Ms. Varghese was also assigned to work in many of the diversionary programs through the Problem Solving Courts.  As a result, she has extensive experience working in Drug Court, Veteran’s Court, and ARI Court.  

In 2012, Ms. Varghese was promoted to the position of Misdemeanor Chief where she supervised seventeen (17) Assistant Public Defenders.  In November 2018, she accepted the position of Felony Chief.

Serving the community has been a high priority and goal for Ms. Varghese.  It is this sense of commitment to the community that has led her to volunteer at Big Brothers Big Sisters for Will and Grundy Counties, join the Will County Bar Association as a Board of Director, and serve as President of the Will County Women’s Bar Association for two years.  Ms. Varghese started the Angel Tree Program at the Will County Public Defender’s Office in 2013, where the office partners with the Joliet Salvation Army to bring cheer to families and children from the Joliet area during the Christmas season.