DEPARTMENT OF LAW

Department of Law - Responsibilities of the Department

The Department of Law of Erie County is the chief legal office and counsel for County government. The department includes the operations of the public defender. The department is headed by the County Solicitor who is appointed by the County Executive and serves at the pleasure of the County Executive. The County Solicitor is Gary Shapira, and the public defender is Darrel Vandeveld. The County Solicitor is responsible to the County Executive for the proper performance of the department.

The Department of Law has the responsibility to:

i. Provide, upon request, legal opinions upon any legal matter or question for County government, except as otherwise provided in the Charter;
ii. Prepare and revise ordinances or resolutions when so requested by the County Executive;
iii. Litigate all legal actions and claims brought by or against the County of Erie, except in those cases in which other legal counsel is retained;
iv. Prepare and/or approve, upon request, for legality all contracts, agreements, or other legal documents on behalf of County government, except as otherwise provided in Charter. A standard form of agreement or contract which is expected to be used repititiously may be approved as to form only;
v. Exercise, when deemed necessary, the right to inspect at resonable times the records of any County department, administrative unit, board, commission, authority, or committee of the County in connection with the performance of the powers and duties of the County Solicitor's office;
vi. Exercise such powers, perform such duties, and have such authority as are given by law;
vii. Certify to the Court Administrator the eligibility for free legal counsel to indigent criminal defendants who are denied Public Defender assistance due to a conflict of interest; and
viii. Have and exercise all powers and duties now or hereafter conferred upon the Public Defender by applicable law.