MidHudsonNews [dot] com is reporting the Chair of the Ulster County Legislature, David Donaldson is questioning the qualifications of Public Defender designee Lauren Sheeley. Sheeley has served as first assistant county attorney since September 2019, and previously worked as the attorney in charge of Legal Services of the Hudson Valley. She has no criminal defense experience, Donaldson noted during the July 14 meeting of the county Ways and Means Committee. While that may be the case, Sheeley said, she does have what it takes to run the office of public defender. “I have spent the past 10 years of my career and my life fighting for the rights of underserved and indigent people and communities,” she said. Legislator Kenneth Ronk defended Sheeley's appointed. “...I don’t ever remember somebody casting doubt on the former public defender’s qualifications in family law or overseeing attorneys that work in family court,” he said. Patricia Doxsey writes in the Daily Freeman that County Executive Pat Ryan suggested the opposition to his appointee had less to do with what some see as her lack of qualifications and more to do with her gender. Sheeley would be the first woman to serve as the county's public defender. While chosen by Ryan, Sheeley's appointment must be confirmed by the full Legislature. Read the full story at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.