New Mental Health Public Defenders in Bexar County

Thanks to Sandrine Ageorges for passing this along, from the San Antonio Express-News ("County hires 4 new public defenders," February 15, 2008):

"Bexar County officials have hired four mental health public defenders. Officials said Anne Mulligan and Kevin McManus will be civil public defenders, representing people at hearings that determine whether they should be committed to the state mental hospital. Julia Garcia and Ellen Pitluk were hired as criminal public defenders, officials said. Garcia and Pitluk will work in the mental health misdemeanor court to be run by County Court 12 Judge Michael Mery."

Travis County established the state's first Mental Health Public Defender's Office, in Austin.