Las Vegas Sun

December 6, 2009

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Editorial: New public defender is seasoned litigator

Friday, Oct. 12, 2001 | 9:25 a.m.

Clark County Manager Thom Reilly is recommending that the County Commission name Marcus Cooper as the new Clark County public defender. The public defender's office has been criticized recently for not taking enough cases to trial, so Reilly's recommendation has drawn a lot of scrutiny.

Cooper, a deputy public defender, has worked in the office for 23 years and has tried more cases than any other attorney in the office. The local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union is complaining that Cooper won't shake things up and bring about progressive changes. But, as Cooper notes, he previously wasn't in a position where he could set policy in the office. Cooper also says that while it's important to maintain a good relationship with prosecutors, his clients always have been his top priority.

Criticism of Cooper seems to be a case of sour grapes from people whose candidate wasn't selected. We think that if the critics keep an open mind about Cooper, over time they will be pleasantly surprised by Reilly's choice.

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