Residents' concerns about AnnJet Switzer working at the law firm of Gibson and Kuehn, the law firm contracted as the Nye County public defender's office, are unfounded, according to the firm's attorneys, Thomas Gibson, Harold Kuehn and Jason Earnest.

Nevertheless, Switzer was recently let go from her position as a legal secretary there. The firm said in a letter it was simply dealing with realities and protecting its business.

Switzer recently pleaded guilty to one count of misconduct of a public officer.

She was arrested as the result of an investigation by the Nye County Sheriff's Office. While working for the Nye County district attorneys's office, she had agreed to exchange information for a substance she thought was methamphetamine.

At the hearing during which Switzer pleaded guilty, she was represented by Kuehn, but he said he was retained by her as her own private counsel.

A number of residents reportedly contacted county commissioners when they heard she was working for the public defender.

A number of community members were upset over what they perceived as a conflict of interest or, given the circumstances involved in her arrest, were worried about confidentiality issues.

According to a letter from the law firm, Switzer was hired by Gibson and Kuehn shortly after her suspension from the district attorney's office approximately six months ago.

"She was eager to work, well trained, well qualified and a joy to be around," the letter said.

Consequently, Switzer was hired as a full-time legal secretary for the firm.

"Internal controls were in place to ensure that all of our employees adhered to the rules of confidentiality," the letter maintained.

In addition, the letter emphasized that the firm is privately contracted by the county as public defender, and as such is "not a county entity or subdivision."

In fact, the letter maintains, according to the IRS definition, "Nye County has the right to control or direct only the result of the work done by an independent contractor, and not the means and methods of accomplishing the result."

"We assume a part of that concern stems from an overstatement of charges, some of which were not legally supportable," the letter continued. "We assume another portion stems from a basic misunderstanding of our role as independent contractor. We also assume that another reason may be as the result of the excoriation of Ms. Switzer held by local law enforcement."

The lawyers responded to these concerns by pointing out the country was founded by people who were "seeking a second chance in life" and the foundation of the criminal justice system is based on that premise.

However, the letter then goes on to say that the lawyers have been told "both directly and indirectly" that continuing to employ Switzer could detrimentally affect the law firm's ability to renew its contract with the county as public defenders.

"It is a bitter truth to realize that our decision to give a well-qualified person a second chance to work and to restore a measure of self-worth should be greeted with a measure of contempt," the letter said.

"Nonetheless, if there is one thing we pride ourselves on at Gibson & Kuehn it is that we are realists," it continued. "We all have families, some of us with more than one, children and personal responsibilities, all of which demand we make intelligent business choices."

As such, the letter stated the firm ultimately decided "to do what any realists would do facing the threat of harm to their primary business" and terminated Switzer, wishing her well.