Public defender wins state honor

Myrtle Beach -- The 9th Circuit Public Defender's Office has announced that Charleston County Public Defender Marybeth Mullaney has been named the 2009 Public Defender of the Year by the South Carolina Public Defenders Association.

The announcement came at the annual South Carolina Public Defenders Association Conference.

Mullaney is a full-time staff attorney representing adult defendants charged in Charleston County. She has been successful in the courtroom, and also has taken on extra duty by splitting time with other staff as the office liaison to the Charleston County Adult Drug Court. This weekly responsibility is a voluntary service to the client community.

Mullaney also has led an effort to educate lawmakers about some of the unexpected and unfortunate consequences that can flow from mandatory minimum sentencing policies that are currently in place.

She has met with law enforcement, victims' advocates, solicitors and lawmakers to urge the creation of appropriate safety valves when mandatory minimums are inappropriate.

She has been a staff attorney with the Charleston County Public Defender's Office since 2007. Previously she served as a staff attorney in the public defender's office of New York City.