The Erie County Legislature’s Republican Caucus is calling on Erie County’s Chief Defender, Michelle Parker, to step down from her position, expressing a lack of confidence in her ability to lead the office. This comes after learning that Ms. Parker recently used the authority of her position to pressure attorneys that participate in the Assigned Counsel program to donate a minimum of $2,000 to Erie County Democratic Party Chairman Jeremy Zellner.
“Michelle Parker’s position should be free of politics. It’s disturbing that she would pressure attorneys, who rely on work from the Assigned Counsel program, to donate politically to a party chairman. She exercised exceptionally poor judgement and needs to be held accountable,” said Minority Leader and Erie County Legislator John Mills.
As Chief Defender, Michelle Parker is in charge of the Erie County’s Assigned Counsel Program, which provides the constitutional right of legal defense to those in need. This function is supposed to be void of conflicts of interest, political interference, or the appearance thereof. Unfortunately, in addition to pressuring attorneys to donate to a political party chairman, Ms. Parker also encouraged them to get politically involved on the “left” and help form a Political Action Committee.
“These actions are far from the mission of Indigent Legal Services and puts the attorneys representing their clients in an uncomfortable position with the Chief Defender who assigns their caseload. It’s apparent Michelle Parker does not act in a manner that is independent of political influence,” said Erie County Legislator Chris Greene.
Republican Caucus legislators sent a letter to the Chief Judge of the NYS Court of Appeals, reporting the potential misconduct and political interference within the Indigent Legal services program. Republican lawmakers are requesting an investigation.
“Not only does Michelle Parker strongly suggest donating politically, in her email to the attorneys she even explains how important it is that the Erie County Legislature’s Democrat majority specifically hear from Independent Public Defense Counsel. And while she suggests next steps would be forming a non-partisan PAC, her words and actions suggest she is hyper partisan in all matters,” said Erie County Legislator Frank Todaro.
“Chief Defender Michelle Parker’s actions have egregiously violated the ILS rules and have jeopardized the integrity of the Assigned Counsel Program as a whole. The politicization of the program undermines the fundamental constitutional right of citizens to receive fair and unbiased legal representation. It is imperative that she resign from her position immediately to uphold the principles and integrity of the program and restore the public’s trust in the provision of quality legal representation,” said Erie County Legislator Lindsay Lorigo.
The Erie County Republican Legislators expressed concern about legal consequences that could arise from an organization classified as a 501c3 nonprofit, which is not permitted to advocate on behalf of political candidates. They also expressed concern about the impact it might have on the attorneys and whether the Assigned Counsel program may have been compromised in some way. Because of these inappropriate actions, Republican legislators are calling for Michelle Parker to be removed from her position.