McDermott appointed as chief public defender for the region

The Virginia Indigent Defense Commission (VIDC) has appointed Peter K. McDermott II as chief public defender for the region. He will serve the counties of Clarke, Frederick, Page, Shenandoah, Warren, the City of Winchester, and the Town of Front Royal.

Peter McDermott, who has run the Front Royal office of the Front Royal Satellite Public Defender Office since 2014, has been named chief public defender for the region. (Courtesy photo)

McDermott succeeds Tim Coyne, who served in that role for 18 years. Coyne stepped down as chief public defender last month to become deputy executive director of the VIDC.

The VDIC works with certified private court-appointed attorneys to provide legal representation for indigent people accused of crimes.

Coyne stated in a media release, “Pete brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to this position, and we know he will do a great job leading the office.”

According to the release, McDermott has devoted his legal career to the defense of Northern Shenandoah Valley’s indigent. He previously served as deputy public defender and has overseen the day-to-day operations of the Front Royal Satellite Public Defender Office since 2014.

McDermott has been in a public defender office “since before he can remember,” the release. States. His godfather, Salvatore “Sam” Panzarella, was the first chief trial attorney for the Monroe County, N.Y., Public Defender; his mother was Panzarella’s first legal assistant.

McDermott, a native of Rochester, N.Y., is a graduate of Monroe Community College, SUNY Brockport, and the Temple University School of Law in Philadelphia. His wife, Cathy, is the senior trial attorney with the Prince William County Public Defender Office.

The Front Royal office of the VIDC is located at 1516 N Shenandoah Avenue, Suite A –1st Floor in Front Royal.