ID: switch to PD system for Mini-Cassia

In southern Idaho, Minidoka and Cassia counties are switching from private contractors to public defenders for indigent defense:

Instead of the current practice of using private attorneys as public defenders, the counties are forming a common public defender's office. The public defender... "will not be allowed to engage in the practice of civil law and/or criminal law other than in the discharge of the duties of this office," according to the job application... (scroll down).

This change will affect at least three of the four attorneys who now work for the public defender's office, said Dave Haley, who handles felony cases for Cassia County.

"It's not going to affect me that much," he said, because at least 95 percent of his cases are public defense. The other attorneys, however, have "fairly successful" private practices, said Haley, who plans to apply for the public defender's position...

Minidoka County Commissioner Lynn Hunsaker said,

"Separately, we just couldn't afford to do all the things we can do together."

"We wanted to make sure we fulfilled our responsibility for county-provided representation," said Clay Handy, Cassia County commissioner, adding that Twin Falls has a similar public defender's office.

The public defender will be appointed from those who submit applications by Wednesday. One application has already been submitted...

The counties now contract with three attorneys in addition to the head public defender, Doug Whipple. Hunsaker said this number could change with the new contract...

The position, which will begin Oct. 1, is a two-year term that may be extended. The short deadline has "created a frantic pace, which will have to be kept up between now and then" to get the department running, Haley said.

Okay, I did toy with applying! For a moment, at least: my wife and son have just come back from vacation in Idaho, and while there, Joe was told by a relative that George W. Bush is protecting us all. My fine fella replied, "I like John Kerry! John Kerry shook my hand!" I could just bust my buttons. My little family's at home here on the south Sound now - I think we'd like to stay.

Still, it will be an entertaining challenge to get a new public defender office up and running, for whoever takes on the job. I wish them well.