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Peter Handy named DIDS executive director; Andrew Coates appointed Nevada State Public Defender
Summary
Governor Lombardo appointed Peter Handy as Executive Director of the Department of Indigent Defense Services and named Andrew Coates as Nevada State Public Defender. Coates said he intends to focus primarily on administrative duties, recruitment and Davis-compliance rather than personally handling Category A felonies.
Governor Lombardo has appointed Peter Handy as Executive Director of the Department of Indigent Defense Services (DIDS), Director Handy told the board during the Feb. 6 meeting. Handy said DIDS is recruiting to fill the deputy director role and has upcoming interviews for the position.
Handy also announced that Andrew Coates was appointed Nevada State Public Defender. Handy summarized Coates' background, saying Coates was licensed in 2019, previously held a contract in Nye County and served as deputy counsel to the governor. "Mr. Coates is on DIDS' list and qualified to take up to low B felonies," Handy said, adding that Coates will not be taking category A felonies himself and is expected to learn from qualified personnel in his office.
When asked by board member Joni Eastley whether he would assist deputies in court or primarily serve in an administrative capacity, Coates said his role will be "mostly administrative." He told the board his priorities include compliance with the Davis settlement, recruiting new attorneys for rural offices and overseeing the opening of the Humboldt County office.
Board members asked for background on Coates' criminal-law experience and noted the department will continue to fill necessary trial counsel roles in counties where Category A felony representation is required. Handy welcomed newly appointed board member Dayvid Figler (appointed by the Nevada Supreme Court) and noted the recent resignation of board member Harriet Cummings and of Chair Laura Fitzsimmons; he said he was not yet aware of the process to fill the governor-appointed seat vacated by Cummings.
The department said it will provide additional information about staffing and how NSPD duties will be distributed as the office continues hiring and onboarding.
