County renews public defender deal as judge questions costs

By Sammy · Nov 3, 2026
sammy.delriopost@gmail.com

DEL RIO, Texas — Val Verde County Commissioners Court on Oct. 7 voted 5-0 to renew its interlocal agreement with Culberson County for the Far West Texas Regional Public Defender’s Office. The office represents defendants who cannot afford a lawyer.

Chief Public Defender James McDermott told the court that because state funding drops from 80% to 67% after the first year, this year’s agreement is “just over $550,000” (meeting video, 01:08:17). The Texas Indigent Defense Commission pays the rest.

McDermott said the office has handled 100% of eligible cases since mid-December, apart from conflicts. He said Val Verde produces about two cases for every one from the five counties at the other end of the program (01:00:12). The office has filled every funded position except one attorney job, which he said counts as successful staffing in rural Texas (01:01:44).

Judge raises cost concerns

County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. questioned the cost. “I’m not throwing rocks… At some point it needs to make more sense than what it’s making. I’m not saying that it’s not a good idea,” Owens said (01:14:35). “We’re paying attorneys, and then we’re paying public defenders” (01:14:57).

Owens said the court had to set aside another $300,000 this fiscal year for private court-appointed attorneys (01:16:20). “My hope would be that whoever sits in my seat come ‘27-‘28 can take back that $300,000,” he said (01:18:04).

McDermott said the overlap was expected for the first two years. Older cases stayed with their appointed private lawyers, who bill only when a case ends (01:15:21). He said his goal is to show within a year that cases move faster than they did under the private bar (01:17:39). After three years, he said, the county will still pay private lawyers mainly for conflict cases, such as additional co-defendants his office cannot represent (01:18:46).

McDermott asked county leaders to join him in asking the Legislature to restore 80% funding and to renew a $10 million rural defense fund that expires next fiscal year (01:10:28; 01:13:05). He credited state Sen. Flores and state Rep. Eddie Morales with securing the program’s current funding (01:09:26). He also said unspent money from the past year will be accounted for, and the county will decide what to do with it (01:07:49).

Ambulance for the hospital

In a separate 5-0 vote, the court approved buying an ambulance from Southwest Ambulance with a $350,000 state grant. County officials said Val Verde Regional Medical Center chose the model and will pay the difference of about $47,000, and that interest earned on the grant must also go toward the purchase (01:48:36–01:50:28).

Sources

Photo: Chief Public Defender James McDermott addresses Val Verde County Commissioners Court, Oct. 7, 2026. Still from county meeting video.