Article: Rochester's public defender selection process criticized

As the Monroe County Legislature focused on passing the 2008 budget on Tuesday night, a quiet storm brewing over the selection process for the next public defender came to a head.

Three weeks ago, legislative President Wayne Zyra announced his creation of a screening panel to review candidates, but community leaders are raising objections that Zyra's proposed process is politically driven rather than merit-based, like the bar association process for screening the current public defender.

In a telephone interview prior to Tuesday's meeting, Zyra said times have changed since Edward Nowak was selected for the job in 1977, and he sees no reason for the current Legislature to pass on

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