Firing Of Montco Public Defenders 'Is A Travesty', Philly DA Says

NORRISTOWN, PA — Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner is joining the call to reinstate Montgomery County's recently fired public defenders, decrying the move as a "travesty" in a statement issued on Wednesday.

The office's leaders, Dean Beer and Keisha Hudson, were replaced shortly after the office filed an amicus brief arguing against the county's practice of holding bail hearings without lawyers of the accused present, and citing "systemic failures" in the existing system.

“For our criminal system to work, defense lawyers must be unafraid to zealously and fiercely advocate both on behalf of their clients and for systemic change that will benefit them," Krasner said in his statement. "Public defenders must be able to do so without fear of reprisal, either professional or personal, because otherwise, our system cannot function."

>>Local Leaders Condemn Firing Of Montco Public Defenders

Montgomery County declined to provide a reason for the change in leadership, saying it is not policy to comment on personnel matters. Days after the announcement, they issued a statement in support of cash bail.

The American Civil Liberties Union has also launched a petition demanding the county reinstate the pair. "Nobody should lose their job because they are good at it," it reads.

Krasner said the move could have a chilling effect on the work the office is able to do moving forward.

"It is all but certain that Chief Defender Dean Beer and Deputy Chief Keisha Hudson were removed because they advocated for massive changes to the county’s bail reform system," Krasner said. "And now public defenders in that office are afraid to fight for their clients and for changes to the system with all that they have."

Other local lawmakers, like State Sen. Daylin Leach, as well as community groups ranging from the nonprofit Gideon's Promise to civil rights groups, have echoed these concerns.

"This news was alarming to thousands of individuals in our community who care about #socialjustice," the Greater Norristown N.A.A.C.P said. "Both Dean and Keisha are known as tireless advocates for #criminaljusticereform in #MontgomeryCounty, especially as it relates to indigent individuals. In addition to providing representation for their clients in court, they have worked on numerous criminal justice reform initiatives, including drug abuse prevention, expanding access to representation, and expungement clinics."

The brief filed by the public defender's office in February was in support of a lawsuit filed in July 2019 in Philadelphia by ACLU in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The case is still under consideration by the court, but has already earned concessions from officials in Philadelphia that, in certain cases, would lead to suspects who do not need to be incarcerated being released before their trial. To read more about the amicus brief filed by Deen and Hudson, and the ongoing cash bail reform debate, see our previous coverage here.

Supporters of Deen and Hudson are urging participation at the next Montgomery County Board of Commissioners meeting, set for Thursday, March 5. The meeting, which begins at 10 a.m. at One Montgomery Plaza in Norristown, is open to the public.