MEET THE TEAM
Jay Michael "Pat" Phelan
Chief Public Defender
Pat has over 37 years of legal experience and has demonstrated his commitment to justice and public service. As a District Judge for the State of Texas in Hockley and Cochran Counties for more than 17 years, Pat has honed his judicial skills and gained invaluable insights into the legal system. Pat’s tenure as a prosecutor for the District Attorney’s Office and an elected County Attorney for over 16 years has instilled in him a deep understanding of criminal law and the intricacies of legal proceedings. Pat has been certified as a Criminal Law specialist by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1995.
In addition to his extensive courtroom experience, Pat has contributed to the academic community as a part-time instructor at South Plains College in the Law Enforcement department. Pat’s diverse legal background includes serving as a defense attorney and managing a private practice for over 20 years, specializing in Civil Litigation, Family Law, and Estate Planning. Pat has presided over or tried more than three hundred jury trials throughout his career, highlighting his ability to manage complex cases and deliver fair judgments.
Throughout his 38-year career as an attorney, prosecutor, and judge, Pat has served on numerous committees at the state, county, school, and city levels. His experience in rural communities has equipped him with a deep understanding of county government operations, including advising Commissioners Courts. Pat has established excellent relationships with District Judges, County Judges, and most prosecutors and sheriffs in the region.
Pat is enthusiastic about advocating for individuals' rights and ensuring equitable access to legal representation. His commitment to justice and public service, combined with his comprehensive legal expertise, make him the right person to lead the High Plains Regional Public Defender’s Office.
Savanah Cavezuela
Office Manager
Savannah joins HPRPDO with several years of experience in legal procedures as a legal assistant, client care coordinator, deputy court clerk, county and district court coordinator and former Justice of the Peace Court Judge. Her passion is in committing to the team she works alongside to bring justice through competent and confident legal representation. Savannah holds a Bachelor of Science in Legal Support and Services with a Concentration in Paralegal Studies and Paralegal Certification from Purdue University.
Born in Hockley County, residing in Cochran County, proudly serves the surrounding 12 counties that participate and trust in the mission of the Texas Indigent Defense Commission to appoint counsel, so justice is served and in turn our communities and society are served.
Sherri Griffith
Assistant Office Manager and Case Worker
Sherri comes to the High Plains Regional Public Defender’s Office as a seasoned legal professional with over 25 years of experience spanning civil litigation, employment law, and public defense. Her career reflects a deep commitment to justice and equity, particularly through her work over the past 13 years with public defender offices, where she has passionately advocated for indigent clients facing criminal charges. Sherri brings not only legal acumen but also a strong operational mindset—skilled in developing and managing office systems, mentoring support staff, assisting with budget planning, and streamlining workflows to enhance efficiency and data reporting. Her leadership style is rooted in service, collaboration, and a drive to improve outcomes for both clients and the teams that support them.
Born in Plainview, Texas, Sherri spent much of her childhood visiting close relatives in the rural communities she now proudly serves. These early experiences instilled in her a deep understanding of and connection to the people and places that shaped her work today. When she’s not in the office, Sherri can often be found in nature—traveling with her camper and two dogs, exploring new trails, and embracing the peace and perspective that the outdoors provides.
Michelle Daniel
Legal Assistant
A native of Hale County, Michelle Daniel attended Plainview schools and upon graduating, she moved to Lubbock and attended Texas Tech University, earning Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature, and in History. In 2020 Michelle returned to her childhood home near Halfway to care for her aging parents.
Michelle worked for Lubbock County for 23 years; 22 of those serving as an administrative assistant in Lubbock County Detention Center. Her tenure in criminal justice allowed her to develop a range of experience with many facets of the system. For over a decade, Michelle also volunteered with of Voice of Hope, Lubbock Rape Crisis Center. Her professional and volunteer experience allowed her the privilege of working for and with exceptional officers, attorneys, judges, mental health providers, and social workers who understood the value of holistic collaboration in criminal justice. From education to counseling to job placement, bringing resources together to assist with clients’ needs, empowers them to succeed, in and out of the criminal justice system.
Michelle is excited to be a part of the HPRPDO team and their commitment to the holistic defense of clients to safeguard the equitable treatment of every person in the criminal justice system.
Melanie Knabe
Case Worker
Melanie Knabe is a dedicated and compassionate professional with a strong academic foundation and a heart for service. She holds an Associate's degree in Behavioral Science from South Plains College, a bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Business Administration, and a master's degree in Human Services with an emphasis in Counseling from Wayland Baptist University. She is pursuing a doctorate in Strategic Leadership, further deepening her commitment to empowering individuals and communities.
Driven by a passion for helping those in need, Melanie believes in the power of support, guidance, and hope. Her work is centered around making a meaningful difference in the lives of others, ensuring that people know help is available and accessible.
Caytlin Nichols
Public Defender
A native of Hockley County, Caytlin Nichols obtained a bachelor’s degree in Broadcasting and Electronic Media from. West Texas A&M. Caytlin then graduated from the Texas Tech School of Law.
After graduating from law school Caytlin worked as a general practice attorney in Spearman, Texas, then joined HPRPDO in 2025.
Caytlin is excited to be a part of the HPRPDO team.
Matthew Brown
Public Defender
Matt has practiced law in Texas for 20 years. Matt began his career in Montgomery County defending persons accused of criminal offenses. He represented clients in Montgomery County and surrounding counties, and in locales as distant as Bandera County, Bexar County, Smith County, and Williamson County. Matt relocated to the Texas South Plains in 2022. Before joining the High Plains Regional Public Defender’s Office, Matt worked as a staff attorney with Legal Aid of North West Texas in the Lubbock office. There he represented individuals in family law, including divorces and custody; estate planning; housing; debtor-creditor; real estate; employment; and benefits matters.
Matt is originally from Lubbock, he strayed from the South Plains, but he is glad to be back on the Caprock.
Kaytlyn Martinez "Katy"
Legal Assistant
Katy, a proud local of Hockley County, is a dedicated and detail-oriented legal assistant with a strong passion for supporting legal teams. She joined HPRDPO with excitement and determination. Katy graduated from Bryant and Stratton University with an Associates of Applied Science, specializing in Paralegal Studies, in April of 2025. She looks forward to being a part of our team and using her skills to support the attorneys in providing valuable services to the indigent community, ensuring justice and hope for all.
Elinor Robinson
Public Defender
Elinor comes to the High Plains Regional Public Defender’s Office with a Juris Doctor and a Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution from Mitchell Hamline School of Law. She earned a Bachelor degree in Criminal Justice Administration from University of Phoenix. Elinor discovered a passion for criminal law in high school. She owned her own business teaching music lessons for more than 20 years, but during that time, she was working towards becoming an attorney. Elinor represented court appointed clients for misdemeanor cases while she worked primarily in family law and represented court appointed clients in juvenile protection cases. Elinor has a passion for criminal defense and is excited to represent clients for the High Plains Regional Public Defender’s Office.
Patrick Metze
Public Defender
Patrick Metze initially worked for a real estate developer and investor in Houston, Texas. In January 1976, he established a solo general practice of law in Levelland, Texas, county seat of Hockley County, thirty miles West of Lubbock, Texas. Prior to 1986 and the collapse of the oil industry in West Texas, his general practice included periodic banking, collections, corporate, employee relations, worker's compensation, personal injury, oil and gas leases and contracts, real estate, criminal and family law. Beginning in 1986, his practice emphasized more criminal and family law, with less focus on commercial, industrial, and labor related problems. In 2000, he moved his primary office to Lubbock and maintained a client base and close ties to Hockley and Cochran County. He joined the Legal Academy first as an adjunct professor teaching the criminal defense clinic at the Texas Tech University School of Law in 2007. In May 2008, he gave up his private practice and joined the Tech Law faculty at the rank of Associate Professor of Law and Director of the Criminal Defense Clinics. In the Spring semester of 2010 he created the Capital Punishment Clinic placing students in the Regional Public Defender for Capital Cases. Fall of 2010 saw the creation of the Caprock Regional Public Defender Office and Clinic, the first full-time public defender office in the nation operated from within a law school by student attorneys and full-time attorney supervisors and instructors. He was promoted to Professor of Law, with tenure, in September 2012. During the Fall of 2016 he established the Texas Tech School of Law Innocence Clinic in association with the Innocence Project of Texas as the school’s first in-house post-conviction student run clinic.
While in private practice Professor Metze represented clients at all levels within the State, including Municipal, Justice, County, District (both State and Federal), Court of Appeals, and Court of Criminal Appeals, with travel throughout all regions of the State. He was solicited and appointed by the Court of Criminal Appeals to represent two individuals on death row on their then-pending State Writs of Habeas Corpus, and remained qualified to accept Art. 11.071 C.C.P., appointments until he withdrew from appointment consideration upon entering the Legal Academy. He was one of only 14 attorneys qualified for appointment as first chair in Capital Murder cases in the 45 counties of the 9th Administrative Judicial Region. In private practice, he was the only attorney in Lubbock who was qualified and solicited appointments to indigent clients for misdemeanors, juveniles, felonies, death penalty cases, and appeals in all courts. He has always been dedicated to the representation of the poor and as such, maintains membership in The Pro Bono College of the State Bar of Texas.
In January 2026, he retired from Texas Tech University School of Law and undertook, once again, representing indigent clients as an assistant public defender for the High Plains Regional Public Defender Office in the rural counties of West Texas. In April of 2026, he celebrates 52 years in the practice of law.
Joshua Coronado
Investigator
Joshua has over 18 years of Criminal justice experience as a Master Peace Officer in great State of Texas. Joshua has worked on all aspects of law enforcement ranging from Patrol, Civil, CID, Narcotics, and Administration as a peace officer. Joshua served in the United States Marine Corps. Joshua holds an Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice, Associate’s Degree in Law Enforcement Technology from South Plains College, a Bachelor’s in Justice Administration from Wayland Baptist University, and Master’s in Criminal Justice from Wayland Baptist University. Joined HPRPDO in 2026.
Dr. Joshua Mora
Dr. Joshua Mora has been a Professor of Spanish at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview since 2000, and is currently the Joachim Endowed Professor of Spanish in the School of Humanities and Literature
As the youngest of thirteen brothers and sisters, he was born in Lubbock County and grew up in a traditional Mexican family from Juárez, México. Dr. Mora’s parents and his oldest brother were immigrants from Mexico, and he, along with his parents and siblings, grew up being migrant workers traveling to Oregon, California and Wyoming picking different crops.
After graduating from Estacado High School in 1977, Dr. Mora attended Texas Tech University later that year. In 1994, he earned his Ph.D. in Spanish with a minor in English from Texas Tech with the focus of his graduate education being in Chicano Studies. The subject of his dissertation was, “Man’s Inhumanity to Man, Justice and Injustice in Three Mexican American Playwrights.”
As an educator, Dr. Mora’s background has enabled him to uniquely support and mentor his students, especially first-generation students, as they negotiate higher education and pursue their academic and career goals – many of them facing the same challenges that he had growing up.
Dr. Mora has been awarded Professor of the Year honors at WBU twice, Distinguished Professor, and was also nominated for the Piper Professional award while at Wayland. He has also led study tours to Costa Rica for 10 years with students wishing to study Spanish abroad. Dr. Mora thoroughly enjoys collaborating with the team as an interpreter for the High Plains Regional Public Defender’s Office.