Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Deputy public defender resigns

Chandler Blair will go into private practice

CLOVIS — Whatever the official reasons for Chandler Blair’s departure to private practice, District Attorney Andrea Reeb said she was glad to see that the man accused of groping attorneys in Clovis was on his way out.

“Regardless of the reason he chose to resign, I was glad to see Mr. Blair’s resignation from the public defender’s office after the accusations made against him,” she wrote in a message to The News. “One being from one of my prosecutors. I want that prosecutor to feel safe and respected at work, and this resignation ensures that will happen.”

That prosecutor still works in Reeb’s office at the 9th Judicial District, and is still awaiting a review from the state Supreme Court of a decision by the state’s Disciplinary Board not to take action on a complaint Reeb filed in spring 2017. The complaint followed reports from the attorney that Blair, the state’s outgoing Chief Deputy Public Defender, had shouted at her in open court and twice touched her inappropriately while passing her in a courtroom.

The Disciplinary Board also declined to take action on another complaint from an attorney formerly with Clovis’ public defender office who claimed Blair approached her at work and choked her, grabbed her and whispered “vulgar comments.”

That attorney now works elsewhere in the state.

Bennett Baur, the state's chief public defender, told the Santa Fe New Mexican last week that Blair was leaving the public defender's office to go into private practice, The Associated Press reported.

Blair has denied the harassment allegations and the Disciplinary Board said its decision not to pursue action was based on “insufficient evidence” and the state’s “Rules of Professional Conduct,” which address lawyers’ behavior with clients but not colleagues.

Attempts Monday to reach Blair were unsuccessful. The new website for his private practice says he “remains a champion of the underdog, and the down trodden.”

 
 
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