Hilary Potashner reappointed Central District public defender

Hilary Lee Potashner has been reappointed to a second term as federal defender for the Central District of California.

Her new four-year term effectively began June 30 after judges of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals approved her reappointment. She began serving as acting federal defender in 2014, and was appointed to the post with beginning June 29, 2015.

Working in the federal defender's office since 2001, Potashner began her Los Angeles career as a line deputy, eventually being promoted to a supervising defender role in 2007 and becoming the Central District's chief deputy in 2012.

Potashner was an attorney in the San Diego County public defender's office from 1993 to 2000.

Potashner has also been responsible for administrative duties and collaboration with other agencies, as well as advising the Central District on criminal justice matters, according to a court news release.

Potashner's office a opened over 3,800 cases in 2018 and maintains a staff of 225 on an annual budget of $40 million.

-- Carter Stoddard