Less than one year on the job, Box Butte County Public Defender Joel Burke submitted a letter of resignation on Jan. 11.
The Box Butte County Commissioners accepted Burke’s resignation during their meeting on Tuesday morning before entering into executive session for personnel. No action was taken during the executive session.
Burke, in his letter of resignation, said that the resignation was effective immediately.
“Due to circumstances beyond control, I can no longer serve in such position,” Burke wrote in his letter. “It has been a pleasure to serve with staff, the judges, court personnel, the county attorney’s office and all others involved. I apologize for any inconvenience my action may cause and wish you the best in the future.”
Burke interviewed for the position in June 2020, accepting the position after the meeting. He took over as Box Butte County Public Defender on July 1, 2020. Burke’s predecessor, Darin Nepper began as the Interim Box Butte County Public Defender on Feb. 29, 2020, and resigned on March 4, 2020, announcing that he had accepted another position. From that time, the county relied on several law firms to serve in the position while searching for a new public defender.
The position was originally occupied by Jon Worthman, who was placed on leave in Jan. 2020 after being arrested for possession of cocaine with intent to deliver. Worthman was allowed to delay his formal resignation to allow him to maintain his health insurance. The Box Butte County Commissioners accepted Worthman’s resignation in May of 2020.
“I no longer need the insurance coverage that was provided to me by the county that was to lapse July 31, 2020,” Worthman’s resignation letter states. “I very much appreciate everything that the county has done for me over the past nearly 20 years and have enjoyed serving as the Public Defender.”