Carbon County’s longtime public defender, who was let go earlier this year, has also resigned from his post as solicitor in the clerk of courts office.

Two weeks ago, Gregory Mousseau submitted his letter of resignation to Tyra Boni, clerk of courts, effective immediately.

The resignation letter simply stated, “Recent events and information have made me lose confidence in your ability to lead and manage the office of the clerk of courts. Therefore, accept this letter as formal notification that I am resigning from my position as solicitor of the office effective immediately.”

Commissioner Chris Lukasevich said he welcomed the resignation and was glad Mousseau “realized he was a liability as a solicitor.”

He echoed his previous statements that the county had lost confidence in Mousseau’s ability to lead the public defender’s office, but provided no specifics on what made them feel the change was necessary.

Boni, in a statement after the meeting, said Mousseau used the same statement the commissioners had used when he was terminated.

“In my opinion, I had a good working relationship with (attorney) Mousseau since January 2020 in which his job was to give my office legal advice when asked. He did not have any management role within my office.”

Boni said Mousseau had resigned as clerk of courts solicitor in May 2021 and was reinstated to that position on Aug. 2, even though the commissioners “voiced doubt over my decision.”

Boni and Mousseau said they met on Aug. 12 and agreed that he would resign.

Last Thursday, the county commissioners voted to appoint Joseph V. Sebelin Jr. of Lehighton as the clerk of court’s new solicitor.

Mousseau had been let go from his post as chief public defender, a post he held since January 2002, in April.

At the time, Lukasevich said the board had lost faith in Mousseau’s ability to lead the department, while a representative for Mousseau’s family said Mousseau had submitted his letter of resignation but it was not accepted.

Mousseau has never publicly commented on the matter, and specific reasons as to why the county chose to terminate him have also never been made public.