Draper will begin this role on July 7, replacing former Chief Alex Bunin, who will retire in December after serving 15 years in his position as the county’s first chief public defender, according to a June news release. Draper thanked Bunin for the work he has done and said she’s honored to build upon his legacy.
“I will be stepping into this role after 13 years as a public defender and now six years as a judge,” Draper said. “Those years have deepened my belief that justice depends on not just the law, but people being willing to defend it, and I appreciate the opportunity to do so. We are living through a defining moment where principles of due process and equal protection are being tested, and so I am so honored and privileged to be able to join this fight.”
Draper earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from Spelman College and received her Doctor of Jurisprudence from The University of Texas at Austin School of Law.
Zooming out
Harris County’s Public Defender's Office was established in 2011, and according to the office’s website, the public defenders are responsible for providing legal representation, including mental health services and appellate representation, to indigent defendants.
Bunin’s 2020 report on the office’s 10-year-anniversary found the HCPD office provided not only representation to clients, but also services that were previously unavailable, including:
- A nationally recognized training program for new lawyers seeking criminal appointments
- Free legal education for the Texas State Bar
- Clean business attire for all criminal defendants during jury trials
- Representation for defendants at initial bail hearings before the appointment of trial counsel
- Exonerations of dozens of defendants convicted by discredited forensic evidence
Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones called Draper a warrior for justice and change.
“You are a person of deep integrity, deep authenticity and you have the deep experience, being a federal public defender, being a criminal court at law judge, and the conviction that we need to take our public defenders’ office to the next level so that we can take at least 50% of the cases, but also do it with that tremendous excellence that I know you have an unwavering commitment to—justice is in your veins," Briones said.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis said this appointment will help the county make significant progress towards lowering the court backlog by 50%.
“This goal is not only achievable, it is essential to manage more cases effectively and ensure everyone receives the fair trial they deserve,” Ellis said.
Bunin stated in the 2020 report how the office will continue to hire more lawyers in order to increase the HCPD’s proportion of appointed cases, as well as add new services to clear criminal histories and address clients’ needs.
What else?
At least $57.6 million is being budgeted in the county’s fiscal year 2025-26 budget for cost increases related to, and the expansion of, the HCPD’s office, according to the county’s budget office.
