After months of speculation, Monroe County Legislature President Sabrina LaMar has named Buffalo Criminal Defense Attorney Robert Fogg as her choice for the county’s new public defender.
The appointment depends on a majority vote of the County Legislature…which has a one vote Democratic majority. Most Democrats are said to favor another candidate, Julie Cianca, who is an assistant public defender. LaMar called on them to “do the right thing” and vote for Fogg as the most qualified candidate. She also said it’s important at this time to appoint a minority candidate, saying the public defender’s officer is no longer diverse enough.
LaMar says there’s been a lot of pressure from some lawmakers to move the process along, but she felt the process was becoming politicized and held off on making her recommendation until she felt the process had worked through issues of diversity and inclusion.
Fogg runs a law firm in Buffalo and serves as conflict defender in Niagara County. The vote on an appointment will likely come at next month’s legislature meeting.