First hour: The latest on the search for a new Monroe County Public Defender
Second hour: Leaders from Guardians of Hope on their recent mission trip to Ukraine
Monroe County needs a new public defender, with longtime incumbent Tim Donaher stepping down. The office handles representation for thousands of people every year -- many of whom can't afford an attorney. Last week the acting public defender, Jill Paperno, announced she was stepping down when it was revealed that a selection committee did not grant her even a second interview. Critics say the committee could be on the verge of making a political patronage appointment, giving the job to someone who has never defended a client in court. Monroe County Legislature President Sabrina LaMar has defended the process but declined to be interviewed about it. We discuss the process with our guests:
- Bob Bonn, member of the original committee to find a merit-based public defender 50 years ago
- Zachary King, chairman of the Monroe County Democratic Committee
- Natalie Ann Knott, former public defender
- Jeremy Moule, news editor for CITY Magazine
Then in our second hour, a group of local volunteers recently put themselves in the line of fire to help the people of Ukraine. The group, called Guardians of Hope, does relief work across the globe, often providing water, increasing access to medical care, and building schools for children. Representatives from the group recently took two trips to Ukraine. They say during one trip, bombs hit the place where they were staying; they grappled with the reality of the situation as they cleaned up pieces of the weapons. This hour, we hear about their work on the ground in Ukraine, and we discuss the day-to-day struggles Ukrainians are facing. Our guests:
- Roman Bosak, co-founder of Guardians of Hope Inc.
- Cameron Knaub, co-founder of Guardians of Hope Inc.
