Wabash County will soon need a new public defender. James Lane, who has been the public defender the last several years, is retiring at the end of this month. Lane served in a part-time capacity, but one of the provisions of Illinois’ new Safe-T Act that goes into effect January 1st, Wabash County, and all other counties in the state, will have to have a full-time public defender. Plus, the public defender must be accessible seven days a week. At Monday’s county commissioner meeting, state’s attorney Kelli Storckman indicated the topic may be brought up at next week’s recessed commissioner meeting which is set for Monday at 4pm.