By Tom Latek
Kentucky Today
FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) – Kentucky’s top public defender is being praised in his final month on the job for his relentless work to provide justice for the state’s poor. Ed Monahan, whose legal career has spanned four decades, led the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy through the lean years of economic recession beginning in 2008, taking the extraordinary step of going to court to get additional funding for his agency.
Ed Monahan
His last day in the role will be Sept. 15.
Social media posts reflect a widespread appreciation for Monahan. Ned Pillersdorf, a Prestonsburg lawyer who met Monahan 36 years ago, called him “an unselfish mentor.”
“Ed has been looking out for the rights of indigent defendants since 1975,” said Pillersdorf. “I read his magnanimous letter announcing that he is retiring as head of the public defender office next month. Not surprisingly Ed not only listed his many accomplishments, but balanced his statement with a sincere listing of regrets.”
Another called Monahan “a true public servant with a heart for others, slow to condemn and always seeking to encourage our better nature.”
“Lawyers dedicated to equal justice don’t grow on trees,” said Tony Oppegard, a Kentucky attorney known for his advocacy on behalf of coal miners and their families. “Ed will be sorely missed.”
Monahan, 66, said one of the regrets is that the workloads of the state’s public defenders remain excessive.
“Because of excessive workload and inadequate salaries, our turnover is enormous,” he said. “Since I began as public advocate in 2008, 335 attorneys have left DPA.”
During Monahan’s tenure, the number of public defender offices have increased from 30 to 36, but he said that’s still far too few considering the state has 120 counties and 57 commonwealth’s attorney offices.
“Our responsibility is to protect people’s liberty vigorously,” Monahan said in a letter announcing his departure. “People’s liberty is at stake.” Monahan said he has worked hard to ensure that the representation provided by the state’s public defenders has been “vigorous, professional and done independent of professional or political influence.”
Kentucky Chief Justice John D. Minton Jr. said he has “deep appreciation” for Monahan’s work.
“He has been a vigorous advocate whose dedication to the cause of justice has been a model for all of us. We wish him much happiness in his retirement,” Minton said.
