Patty Cafferata, who has been the governor-appointed state public defender since March, submitted a letter of resignation Wednesday following scrutiny surrounding documented reports that she did not ably represent clients in criminal cases.
Cafferata, 83, wrote in the resignation letter to Gov. Joe Lombardo that she appreciated his trust in her abilities in the role, which involves supervising attorneys and personally appearing in court on behalf of people who can’t afford an attorney. She said, however, that members of Nevada’s Board of Indigent Defense Services (BIDS) discussed her legal qualifications “based on misinformation” at a public meeting for more than an hour.
“I believe the Board’s public statements about my legal skills will make it impossible for me to successfully represent clients in White Pine County,” Cafferata wrote.
Cafferata did not specify in the letter what she believed was misinformation, and did not immediately respond Wednesday to emailed requests for more details.