Flanked by her sons Jackson McLean, 23, left, and Jake McLean, 25, Hillsborough County Public Defender Lisa McLean, center, is sworn in on Jan. 7 by Melissa Polo, chief judge for the 13th Judicial ...

Lisa McLean, a longtime Tampa criminal defense attorney who describes herself as an “in the trenches” lawyer, announced this week that she will run to succeed Public Defender Julianne Holt, ...

Hillsborough Public Defender candidate Lisa McLean speaks during a Tiger Bay Club forum at Hotel Haya on May 17 in Tampa. [ JEFFEREE WOO | Times ] As she campaigns, McLean, 59, touts humble roots.

Julianne Holt’s retirement after three decades at the helm marks a turning point for the Hillsborough County Public Defender’s office. Of the two candidates running to succeed her, Lisa McLean ...

Lisa McLean will be Hillsborough County’s next public defender, with results late Tuesday showing her leading Rocky Brancato in the race to replace the office’s longtime leader, Julianne Holt.

Flanked by her sons Jackson McLean, 23, left, and Jake McLean, 25, Hillsborough County Public Defender Lisa McLean, center, ...