PORT ANGELES — A newly-formed ad hoc committee will advise Clallam County commissioners on the best way to provide legal defense to those who can’t afford an attorney.
Commissioners voted 3-0 Tuesday to appoint Heidi Greenwood, Steve Robins, John Troberg, Craig Ritchie, Danetta Rutten, Preston Kayes, Carol Mortensen and Chris Shea to a public defense advisory committee.
The eight committee members, all of whom are experts in the criminal justice system, will study several options for the public defense delivery system and make a recommendation to the board, commissioners said.
“Thank you to these individuals for being willing to serve and to advise the board,” Commissioner Mike Chapman said Tuesday.
Clallam Public Defender has provided legal defense for indigent clients in Clallam County for more than three decades.
Last December, commissioners inked a one-year, $1.14 million contract extension with the Port Angeles-based nonprofit firm.
Harry Gasnick, Clallam Public Defender director, urged commissioners this year to provide more certainty about the long-term provision of public defense.
Commissioners are expected to sign a three-year contract for public defense this fall.
The ad hoc committee will study four basic options — and possibly others — for the public defense delivery system.
The identified options are:
■ Keep the current system, with one contractor providing public defense in Superior, District and juvenile courts.
■ Bid separately with one contract for Superior and juvenile courts and a separate contract for District court.
■ Establish a public defense ombudsman, a county employee who would develop a list of qualified public defenders and assign attorneys to cases.
■ Establish a new county department for public defense.
While the new committee will make a recommendation for public defense delivery system, it will not recommend a particular contractor or contractors for the job.
Greenwood is a senior assistant city attorney for the city of Port Angeles.
Robins is a senior attorney for the Northwest Justice Project.
Troberg is a part-time Clallam County deputy prosecuting attorney and a former public defender.
Ritchie is a former Sequim city attorney and former Clallam County prosecuting attorney.
Rutten is a retired juvenile probation officer.
Kayes is a retired drug court coordinator.
Mortensen is a family law attorney.
Shea is a private practice Sequim attorney and former county prosecuting attorney.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
