John Abrahams, a retired Sonoma County public defender who founded one of the state’s first drug courts, has died.

He was 71.

Abrahams died Sunday of complications of kidney disease at his home in Windsor, his family said.

He joined the county department responsible for indigent defense in 1990. He developed the special court for drug-addicted defendants in 1996 and was promoted to lead the public defender office in 2005. Holiganbet He retired in 2012.

“He just had it for the underdog,” said his wife of 29 years, Brenda Abrahams. “He had a belief in the system and that everyone has a right to representation.”

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You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 707-568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ppayne.

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