2024-07-08 Public Defense StandardsPublic Defense Standards
July 8, 2024
10:02 a.m.
Present: Commissioner Brummer, Commissioner Pollock, Commissioner Swope, County Manager Ryan
Barrett, Becky Butler, Prosecuting Attorney Jonathan Meyer, Washington State Association of Counties
Interim Executive Director Derek Young, Curtis Steinhauer, Rachel Tiller, Ruth Petersen, Judge Wade
Samuelson, Monique Shedd, Sheriff Snaza, Undersheriff Kevin Engelbertson, Ricolena Anders, Sen. Jeff
Wilson, Josh Weiss, Judge Andrew Toynbee, Judge Jim Lawler, Meja Handlen, Susie Palmateer, Chris
Baum, Jacob Clark, Don Blair
Guest(s): KC (no last name listed)
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Public comment: None.
Public defense: The meeting participants discussed indigent defense and the drastic caseload reductions
the State Bar Association has proposed.
As the meeting participants noted, the county uses public tax dollars to contract with area attorneys to
represent individuals who are unable to afford representation on their own. Commonly referred to as
“indigent defense,” this tax-funded representation is constitutionally guaranteed.
The meeting participants (including judges, the prosecuting attorney, the sheriff, contracted defense
attorneys, county staff and representatives from the Washington State Association of Counties) shared
numerous concerns about the proposed changes. Among the concerns cited:
• It addresses the needs of counties that don’t have properly-working programs. Lewis County –
and several others statewide – already has a successful program. The proposed changes would
only negatively affect that.
• The proposal is skewed in that it doesn’t reflect the time efficiencies seasoned attorneys enjoy.
The proposal instead focuses on how much time newer employees spend on cases.
• A recent news article showed the bar association following two novice attorneys as it developed
its caseload recommendations.
• The proposal amounts to a broad-state solution to a King County-type problem.
• It will be “an unmitigated disaster.”
The group discussed whether an injunction could be filed to prevent the state from putting the caseload
standards into effect, and participants discussed drafting a joint letter to the state Supreme Court.
Derek Young said it’s imperative that public defenders weigh in and share their thoughts with the state
Supreme Court.
Meeting adjourned at 11:18 a.m.