Allegheny County’s top public defender was removed from her role Wednesday after allegations she made offensive comments to co-workers.
County spokesperson Abigail Gardner confirmed the departure of Chief Public Defender Lena Bryan-Henderson but declined to comment further as the county rarely publicly discusses personnel matters.
Gardner said longtime chief deputy public defender Andy Howard is currently acting chief public defender; it's unclear if he will hold the position until the county finds a permanent replacement. Officials did not have a timeline for when a new chief public defender might be hired.
Bryan-Henderson was placed on paid administrative leave last month after the county launched an investigation into multiple complaints.
Bryan-Henderson’s attorney, Joseph J. Pass, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In a message shared with supporters in April and obtained by WESA, Bryan-Henderson denied the allegations and vowed to fight for her job.
“While this process has been incredibly difficult, it has only deepened my commitment to providing the strongest possible advocacy for those who face unjust systems and false allegations,” she wrote.
Bryan-Henderson said county officials, whom she did not name, informed her at an April 10 meeting that there were 25 separate claims against her.
Bryan-Henderson said they asked if she ever made offensive statements in the office, including that “pregnancy makes women ‘dumber,’” or that Native Americans “don’t have real problems.” She said she was also asked if she has questioned people about their gender at birth.
The accounts of current and former staff in the office who spoke to WESA, and Bryan-Henderson’s message to supporters, suggest there were tensions surrounding her leadership, including questions about her approach to staff and her level of managerial skill and experience.
Bryan-Henderson was appointed in January 2024 by County Executive Sara Innamorato, weeks after Innamorato took office. She was the first Black woman to serve as the county’s chief public defender.
The union representing county court workers said it had no immediate comment Wednesday, but in a previous statement told WESA that it “take[s] the complaints made against Chief Bryan Henderson seriously and fully support the County’s decision to undertake a prompt, thorough, and fair investigation into these allegations.”
This story is developing and will be updated.
