In March 1975 the first Federal Public Defender office was established in the Southern District of West Virginia. Local attorney Carl Duttine was appointed FPD; Leon T. Copeland, also a local attorney, was named Assistant FPD; and one secretary was hired. Carl resigned in his third year, and Leon later was appointed as FPD. For several years the number of staff remained at the same level – three, although the caseload continued to grow each year. Then, as now, the SDWV covered a large area of West Virginia terrain, which included an urban as well as a rural mountainous demographic. It has always meant a great deal of travel time for the attorney staff and the investigators.

Upon the resignation of Leon Copeland, Ira F. Kirkendoll, an AFPD from the Kansas Federal Public Defender Office, was appointed FPD. His appointment, in January 1987 coincided with a significant increase in the US Attorney’s staffing. The result was a decidedly sharp upturn in the FPD caseload. During Ira’s tenure, he oversaw a staff expansion, as well as the acquisition of larger quarters. He resigned during his third year to become FPD in the Northern District of Texas.

In 1990, Hunt L. Charach, who was Ira’s first AFPD, became the fourth FPD. Hunt served as the FPD until his death in July 2000, with the longest years of service of any former FPD for this District. It was during these years, that the US Attorney had its most significant growth ever in its prosecution department, and the caseload became ever larger and more complex. Consequently, the FPD office experienced tremendous growth with the addition of two AFPD positions, a legal research and writing specialist, a Computer Systems Administrator position, and others. The new Robert C. Byrd Courthouse was built in Charleston, as well as a new federal courthouse in Beckley. During Hunt’s tenure, the FPD assumed the handling of the CJA Panel attorneys, and the office continues to manage the CJA Panel for the District. The office compiles a manual of all of the relevant decisions on guidelines sentencing from the Fourth Circuit. This manual is widely distributed throughout the Fourth Circuit to practitioners and judicial officers.

Following Hunt’s death, the office underwent significant changes with the appointment of the fifth FPD, Mary Lou Newberger, who was appointed in November 2000, and the retirement of the Administrative Officer, June Parsons, in December 2000, who had been with the office since its establishment. In December 2003, the office added an additional AFPD position, the first since 1994. During FY 2003, the office accepted its first death-eligible case with Lou serving as co-counsel. Lou was also instrumental in the revision of the District’s antiquated CJA Plan in June 2004. She is also currently serving on the local Rules Committee to update the local rules of procedure for the Southern District of West Virginia.

The office has significantly increased its services to the CJA Panel, scheduling training sessions approximately every 6 weeks and maintaining a listserv so the panel attorneys can timely share information and questions with each other. The Office also functions as an information clearinghouse, particularly with all of the AFPDs available for consultation with CJA attorneys. The research and writing specialist has assumed primary duties in keeping the CJA attorneys updated on issues arising from the Blakely and Crawford cases. Under the direction of the CSA, the attorneys in this office have taken the lead in this District in utilizing the electronic courtrooms.

The office currently has a staff of 16, with five AFPDs, one LRWS, two investigators, four secretaries, a CSA, an Administrative Officer, and a Panel Administrator. The office serves the Southern District of West Virginia with its headquarters in Charleston and unstaffed offices in Huntington, Beckley, and Bluefield.