New Chief Public Defender Named
January 23rd, 2017 by
When chief public defender Steven Porch was selected by Gov. Hutchinson to fill the vacant position of Circuit Judge, caused by the recent death of Judge Luevonda Ross, Porch’s public defender manager seat became vacant.
The state public defenders office then began a search to fill the managers position, which drew three qualified, interested candidates.
Following meetings with the governors office, the circuit judges, and others, an area attorney has been chosen to fill that position.
Joseph P. (Joe) Mazzanti III, a practicing attorney and public defender from Chicot County has been selected to serve as the Managing Attorney for 10th Judicial District Public Defender’s Office, based in Monticello.
Mazzanti is currently serving the position on an interim basis, and is expected to officially begin full-time on February 1.
His former part time position will then be filled, after an applicant search is completed.
