Friday, September 29, 2006

County finalizes public defender contracts

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By TERRY SMITH
Express Staff Writer

The Blaine County Commission has approved four public defender contracts for the upcoming fiscal year.

Contracts were awarded late Tuesday to Hailey attorney Douglas Werth for four months service, Ketchum attorney Dan Dolan for two months, Hailey attorney Cheri Hicks for two months and the Roark Law Firm in Hailey for three months.

One month for fiscal year 2007, which starts Oct. 1, is still unfilled. Commission Chairwoman Sarah Michael said commissioners are reviewing applications for the vacancy.

"We want to finalize it as soon as possible," she said.

Unlike many Idaho counties where a public defender's office is appointed to handle all indigent criminal and juvenile cases, Blaine County uses various local attorneys on a rotation schedule.

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The public defender for a given month is paid $22,000 to handle an average monthly load of 40 cases.

The contracts for 2007 will cost the county at least $264,000. Public defenders are paid an additional $100 per hour in the event they are assigned to a first-degree murder case.