Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Defense topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Washington County honors retiring public defender Doug Terry after 39 years
Summary
The Washington County Commission presented an award to longtime managing public defender Doug Terry, recognizing his 39-plus years of service, mentorship of other attorneys and work on statewide training standards. Terry reflected on the role of public defenders in the justice system.
The Washington County Commission publicly recognized Doug Terry after more than 39 years as a public defender and as the county's managing public defender.
Matt Raza, representing the State Defense Commission, presented a certificate praising Terry's statewide mentoring and his work developing training standards. Raza told the commission that Terry "has been so generous with his time and his expertise and his wisdom" and that his legacy will "carry out throughout the state, for years to come." The county presented its own plaque noting Terry's commitment to equal justice.
Doug Terry accepted the recognition and thanked mentors, colleagues and family. Terry described the adversarial but cooperative nature of the justice system and defended the role of public defense in protecting rights. "For our system to work, someone has to stand between the Government, the relative, immeasurable power of the government and the defendant," Terry said, adding that public defenders take difficult cases that others will not. Commissioners and law-enforcement representatives in the room praised his service and the commission offered a photograph and additional gratitude after the formal remarks.
