Letter to State Board of Public Defense
January 9, 2020
State Board of Public Defense
331 2nd Ave S, Suite 990
Minneapolis, MN 55401
Dear Members of the State Board of Public Defense,
My name is Irene Fernando and I serve as Hennepin County Commissioner for District 2. I write to you on behalf of the residents of Hennepin County to request information regarding the suspension of Mary Moriarty, Hennepin County’s Chief Public Defender. Ms. Moriarty’s clients are my constituents and we share a commitment to serving them to the best of our ability. Public defenders play a vital role in advancing equity, ensuring due process, and engaging with some of our most vulnerable residents.
As a commissioner, I am dedicated to advancing equity across the County by increasing visibility, transparency, and accountability of our government. More broadly, Hennepin County has a strategic commitment to disparity reduction by focusing on outcomes in education, employment, health, housing, income, justice, and transportation. Ms. Moriarty’s work affects each of these domains, and she has been a key partner in strengthening our vision.
Due to our shared clients and jurisdictions, the Hennepin County Board holds a vested interest in the process, decision-making, and communication related to Ms. Moriarty’s suspension. As a result, the following information is important to me in my role:
Overview of process and events regarding Ms. Moriarty’s suspension
Overview of decision-making and timeline moving forward
Direct communication so that updates are sourced from your office versus the media
Given the impact of Ms. Moriarty’s work on Hennepin constituents everyday, I formally request your consideration in providing the above information, either directly to me or to the full Hennepin County Board. I understand the discretion, respect, and sensitivities in any human resources matter, so I understand if a closed briefing may be required for legal reasons.
While in office, I have partnered well with Ms. Moriarty and I’m grateful for her work. She is a fierce advocate for her clients and regularly speaks out against the biases inherent in our systems. Recent articles have claimed that Ms. Moriarty’s suspension may be related to her purposefully anti-racist approach. These assertions are concerning and must be addressed. I am thankful for Attorney General Ellison’s request for a transparent review, and I hope this process moves along in a timely and transparent manner.
Thank you for your service and I look forward to a prompt response.
Sincerely,
Commissioner Irene Fernando, District 2