Russ Tye is the Chief Trial Counsel at the Cuyahoga County Office of the Public Defender. Russ maintains an extensive caseload of homicides, including capital cases, and other serious offenses. He also co-counsel’s with and assists with the development and training of other public defenders in the Office. Russ is certified by the Ohio Supreme Court as Lead Counsel in Capital Defense Litigation. He is dedicated to ensuring that everyone accused of a crime receive a vigorous defense and fair treatment from the justice system regardless of their economic status.

Prior to joining the Public Defender’s Office, Russ served, for four years, as both Co- Criminal Chief and Chief of the newly created Civil Rights Division at the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office. As Co-Criminal Chief, Russ supervised the Major Trial Unit which includes cases involving Cuyahoga County’s most serious felonies including, but not limited to, capital murder offenses. As Chief of the Conviction Integrity Unit, Mr. Tye conducted extensive investigations into wrongful conviction cases. The work of that unit was responsible for the dismissal of cases, the reduction of sentences, and the release of individuals from incarceration as justice required.

Russ received his law degree from Cleveland State Law School in 1996 and has been involved in litigating criminal cases as a private attorney, prosecutor, and public defender for nearly 30 years.