The La Paz County Public Defender has died

Arthur Higgs III, the La Paz County Public Defender appointed to the position in January, has died at the age of 53.

Higgs was first hired by the County as Deputy Public Defender in February 2016 before being promoted early this year.

A statement by his colleagues at the Public Defender’s Office said he was a big part of the community.

“Arthur Higgs was a brilliant legal mind that dedicated his life to indigent defense and public service,” the statement said. “He was a mentor to many and took great pride in building the La Paz County Public Defender’s Office, while sharing his knowledge and legal expertise with the entire community. He enjoyed telling war stories from his career and loved sharing stories about his wife Jessica, daughter Shay and granddaughter. Both in court and out of court, he was a compassionate and caring person that always tried to find a reason to smile and make others laugh. Most importantly, he always had an open door. He will be deeply missed.”

Board of Supervisors Chairman Duce Minor added, “Art was a tremendous asset to La Paz County. He had a genuine passion for his work, and he was always willing to go the extra mile to help the County. His work and dedication have been appreciated and will be missed greatly.”