Monterey County Public Defender resigns.

After 10 years as Monterey County’s public defender—and years of paying close attention to the poor conditions at Monterey County Jail—James Egar is resigning.

“It’s time for me to go,” Egar says. He added his last day will be Wednesday, June 15.

County Counsel Charles McKee confirms Egar's upcoming departure. “I understand he wants to pursue other ventures, and we wish him well in all of his endeavors," he says.

McKee declined to answer if Egar’s departure was on good terms.

But evidence of a rocky relationship was made public last August, when Egar filed a claim against the county alleging county official retaliated against him for his involvement in the successful class-action suit he brought forward to help improve conditions at the jail.

In the claim, Egar alleged County Administrative Office Lew Bauman and his office discriminated and retaliated against him because they considered him a “whistleblower” for bringing forward inmates’ complaints about the jail’s problems.  

Last month, a federal judge ordered the county to make major changes to the jail, including improvements its inadequate health and mental care practices.

In 2014, Egar was chosen as Defender of the Year by the California Public Defenders’ Association, for the same efforts in the jail overhaul.