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monroe county public defender

Jan 25, 2022

Selection process for new Monroe County Public Defender announced

Monroe County Legislature President Sabrina LaMar has announced the process for selecting a new Monroe County Public Defender.

Mar 4, 2021

Public Defender issues report on area police

The Monroe County Public Defender’s Office has sent a report to local police agencies in an effort to assist them in the state-mandated effort to reform law enforcement agencies. Each year, the Monroe County Public Defender’s Office represents, on average, represents more than 15,000 people accused of committing a crime, according to the 18-page report. […]

Jul 7, 2020

Public defender hires diversity and inclusion officer

Attorney Danielle Ponder has joined the Monroe County Public Defender’s Office in the newly created position of Special Assistant Public Defender – Diversity and Inclusion Officer. As part of the executive leadership team, Ponder will guide the office’s efforts to expand the diversity of the staff, and help build an inclusive organization. She also will […]

Jan 26, 2018

County’s grant rejection generates criticism

Monroe County’s decision to decline a $2.6 million grant to provide a multi-disciplinary approach in child neglect cases has generated a substantial amount of attention from experts outside the Rochester area. The Jan. 22 article in The Daily Record about the county’s decision to decline the money prompted the leader of the Alexandria, Va.,-based National […]

Jan 19, 2018

Monroe County turns down $2.6 million grant

Monroe County officials have turned down a $2.6 million state grant because the funding would have paid for attorneys to represent indigent parents much earlier in Family Court cases, which they claim would interfere with child neglect and abuse investigations. Monroe County spokesman Jesse Sleezer said in a written statement that the initiatives funded by […]

Sep 18, 2017

Nominations sought for two criminal defense attorney awards

The deadlines are approaching for nominations for two prestigious awards for criminal defense lawyers presented by the Monroe County Public Defender’s Office. Nominations are being sought for The Award for Excellence in Indigent Adult Representation in Family Court and the Jeffrey A. Jacobs (Jacobs) Award. Award for Excellence in Indigent Adult Representation recognizes an attorney […]

Jan 12, 2017

Documentary on 13th Amendment and discussion planned

The Monroe County Public Defender’s Office, in collaboration with the Racial Justice Committee of the National Association for Public Defense, will host a screening of the documentary 13TH onWednesday in Basil Hall on the campus of St. John Fisher College. The film will be shown at 6 p.m., with a panel discussion to follow. The […]

Aug 4, 2016

Appellate work appeals to James Hobbs’ scholarly side

James A. Hobbs, 42, was admitted to the Bar in 2008 and is now in his third year in the appellate bureau of the Monroe County Public Defender’s Office. A native of Catskill, Greene County, he earned his undergraduate degree at Reed College in Portland, Ore., a doctorate in philosophy at Cornell University, and his […]

Jul 7, 2016

Lawmakers now must find revenue for indigent legal services

New York state lawmakers have voted to shift the cost of legal services for the poor from the counties to the state, raising two big questions: Will Gov. Andrew Cuomo sign the bill and, if he does, how will the initiative that will eventually cost $600 million annually be paid for. “We passed a major […]

Mar 14, 2016

Public Defender caseload trending down, funding for 24-hour arraignment coverage uncertain

The most significant news in the Monroe County Public Defender’s 2015 annual report is the implementation of a program to provide around-the-clock representation to indigent clients in all courts. But it’s unclear whether the new New York state budget, due to be approved by April 1, will continue the funding needed to continue what is […]

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