Counties balance budget for public defense
Administrative Judge Darren Simpson stepped from behind the bench Tuesday to plead his case with commissioners in Fremont, Jefferson and Madison Counties.
During the last Idaho State Legislative session, lawmakers moved toward establishing a State Public Defender Commission. Counties will have to decide whether to hire a full-time office, transform current attorney contractors to hourly positions, or set up a joint county effort.
Judge Simpson said his meeting with commissioners was to help counties make an effective decision concerning the legislative mandate.
“As a court system, we’re not trying to come in and run the county,” said Simpson. “This is a decision that these counties are going to have to make in such a short period of time.”
Simpson said within the Seventh Judicial District of Idaho, current public-defender caseloads have been heavy. He said having a public-defender is mandatory, but as long as counties make a fiscally responsible decision, it should be beneficial to county operations.
“Public defenders across the region try hard to work their cases, but when you’ve got an enormous caseload you may not have the time to spend on it that you’d like to have,” said Simpson.
County officials within the Seventh Judicial District will be meeting in Mid-June with having made their decisions regarding new public-defender positions. Until then, approximate costs for each county won’t be available.
