Roger H. Stewart

Roger Stewart devoted his legal career to public service in Elko County, Nevada. He became a Nevada lawyer in 1989 and went on to serve as a public defender in Elko County for 27 years, holding the post of Chief Deputy Public Defender at the time of his death. Colleagues remembered him as a fixture in the community's court system for three decades and one of the deans of Elko County's public defense bar.

A native of western Pennsylvania, Stewart earlier worked for the Nevada State Public Defender before building a long career in Elko's Fourth Judicial District. Judges and fellow attorneys described him as a tenacious yet ethical advocate who zealously defended the constitutional rights of the clients he was appointed to represent, while discharging his responsibilities to the courts and opposing counsel without fail. He was recalled for his immense intellect and knowledge of the law, and for giving his clients his time and respect - a consummate professional who was rarely gone and always prepared.

Beyond the courtroom, Stewart was known as a polymath with a love of trivia, bridge, the British rock band The Who, and Pittsburgh sports - a walking encyclopedia of statistics for the Pittsburgh Pirates. A proud father and grandfather, he remained committed to his work throughout his life, dedicated to holding government accountable and ensuring the voiceless had a voice in the justice system. Roger Stewart was 73.