PORTSMOUTH

Brenda C. Spry, who joined the public defender's office 18 years ago, has been chosen to lead it.

Spry, 46, replaces the late John H. "Jay" Underwood III, who became Portsmouth's first public defender 22 years ago.

Spry served as acting public defender during the last months of Underwood's battle with cancer. He died in March.

The new public defender, who has described Underwood as a longtime friend and mentor, began her law career in the Portsmouth office, which defends indigents charged with jailable offenses. She had been the deputy public defender for about 15 years and served as acting public defender in Suffolk in 2006.

A Virginia Beach native, Spry holds a criminal justice degree from Old Dominion University and a law degree from the College of William and Mary.

The Virginia Indigent Defense Commission, which oversees public defender offices in the state, appointed Spry to her new post.

Spry, who heads a staff of 17 lawyers, said Joyce Weddle has been promoted to senior deputy public defender.

Janie Bryant, (757) 446-2453, janie.bryant@pilotonline.com