SAN DIEGO — The San Diego County Public Defender’s Office is under fire again after two former employees accused the office of harassment and retaliation.
Whitney Antrim says she spent 17 years in the San Diego County Public Defender’s Office
“Being a public defender was the greater honor of my life. Representing the voiceless of San Diego,” said Whitney Antrim, plaintiff.
But Antrim's attorney says she was forced to resign after she was going to testify in support of a female colleague's claims of sexual harassment in the public defender's office.
“She suffered in silence through years of harassment,” said Emilia Arutunian, attorney.
The attorney claims Deputy Public Defender Troy Britt threatened Antrim's career if she testified.
“He began a horrific campaign against Whitney. [He was] constantly antagonizing her, even public humiliating her in front of hundreds of her colleagues,” said Aruntunian.
Antrim says she resigned in April 2021. Her husband, Kenan Gultekin, was also a public defender at the time.
His attorney, John Gomez, says his client left the office eight months later after facing retaliation and bullying because his wife spoke out.
“Her husband, Mr. Gultekin was collateral damage,” said Gomez. Both have filed separate lawsuits against the county claiming harassment and a hostile work environment.
This isn't the first time the public defender's office has come under fire.
In 2023, two former public defenders were awarded millions of dollars in discrimination lawsuits against the County.
In March, the County hired outside counsel to investigate misconduct allegations.
“The toxic workplace endures to this day and no change has been made despite the verdicts against them multiply whistleblower complaints and ethical complaints,” said Antrim.
A spokesperson for the San Diego County Public Safety Department emailed CBS 8 this statement:
The County looks forward to litigating this matter in court. We will file a response to the Plaintiffs’ allegations shortly and will aggressively fight this case.
“San Diego deserves better,” said Antrim.
The County declined to give an update on the status of the outside counsel investigation in the Public Defender’s Office.