MT: TDY

Cascade County names temporary chief public defender

As the days of a county-run public defender system draw to a close, having to fill two new vacancies in the public defender's office appeared a daunting task for the Cascade County commissioners.

The state takes control of Montana's public defender system on July 1, and there is no guarantee people hired now by the county will keep their jobs. Randi Hood, the state's new chief public defender, said the county employees will transfer to the state after July 1, but will be subject to a six-month probationary period.

Between now and July, Carl Jensen, an assistant in the county public defender's office since 1997, has agreed to run the Cascade County office....