Adams County Public Defender’s Office to add two full-time assistant public defenders in March

QUINCY — Two people will join the Adams County Public Defender’s Office in March as full-time assistant public defenders.

Betsy Bier will begin in her position on March 4. She is a graduate of Ball State University, and she earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois College of Law. She previously practiced as an assistant public defender in Champaign, Illinois and Adams County. She also has maintained a private practice in Adams County for decades. Bier recently was one of several private attorneys who were specially appointed as public defenders in 2023 to alleviate the caseload in the public defender’s office.

Kevin Bross will begin in his position on March 12.  He most recently worked for the law firm of Schmiedeskamp, Robertson, Neu and Mitchell in Quincy as an associate in the litigation and dispute resolution practice group with a focus on civil defense litigation. 

The Palmyra, Mo., native, previously worked at a large litigation firm in St. Louis, representing and defending insurance companies and their insureds. He represented many of the nation’s largest insurance companies and focused much of his practice on the defense of trucking companies and individual homeowners at the state and federal level. 

Bross also has worked as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Christian County in Missouri. He also was the interim prosecutor for Monroe County in Missouri, handling cases ranging from homicide to traffic tickets. He is a graduate of Truman State University, and he earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri School of Law.

“We continue to look for talented individuals to join our team,” Chief Public Defender Christopher Pratt said in a press release announcing the two new hires. “Anyone interested in an attorney position must be licensed to practice law in Illinois.”

Pratt said any applicants should direct inquiries to cpratt@adamscountyil.gov.