By Julia Urquizo
SANTA ROSA, CA – After 20 years, Brian Morris will return to Sonoma County, where he started decades ago – now, Morris will be the Public Defender, starting Dec. 1, earning a base salary of $231,084.
Morris started as a deputy public defender in Sonoma County after he studied philosophy at the University of Vermont, before getting his Juris Doctorate from the University of San Francisco School of Law.
He moved from Sonoma to Marin County to serve as their Deputy Public Defender for 15 years until he became Assistant Public Defender in 2015. He was also the 
Deputy Public Defender for Mendocino County.
Morris is known among Sonoma county’s justice partners for his clever collaboration and positive outcomes for defending the county’s residents financially unable to hire an attorney.
Some of the cases Morris will handle as a Public Defender are probate and welfare proceedings, criminal cases, appeals involving mental health guardianships, and juvenile cases.
Chair of the Board of Supervisors, Lynda Hopkins has said, “Brian’s extensive litigation experience and passion for person-centered representation will continue a tradition of positive outcomes for Sonoma County residents. We’re happy to have him.”
A few of the committees Morris is currently serving on include: the Marin County Juvenile Justice Realignment Committee, the California Public Defender’s Legislative Committee, the Marin County Equity CORE Team, and the Marin County Criminal Justice Behavioral Health Team.
The Board of Supervisors in Sonoma County will hold a meeting to review his contract on Nov. 2.
