PORT ANGELES — Clallam County commissioners have devised a plan to quell uncertainties about the long-term provision of public legal defense.
Commissioners Mike Chapman and Bill Peach agreed by consensus Monday to assemble an advisory committee that will make recommendations on the structure of the public defense delivery system.
Commissioner Mark Ozias was absent from the work session because he was serving with the county Canvassing Board.
All three commissioners are expected to discuss the proposed public defender advisory committee next Monday and vote on its formation next Tuesday.
Last December, commissioners approved a $1.14 million, one-year contract extension with Clallam Public Defender to provide legal services to defendants who can’t afford to hire their own attorney.
The nonprofit firm has been providing indigent defense in Clallam County for more than three decades.
County officials hope to secure a three-year contract for public defense before the end of this year.
“I think there’s universal agreement that we can’t be going through this every October through December,” Clallam Public Defender Director Harry Gasnick said of the contract negotiations.
“Yeah, no, clearly,” Chapman said. “That’s kind of the goal, to come through the process with a new three-year plan, much like we did the hearing examiner in a good, open process that allows for lots of public input and have professionals take a look at it.”
Armed with feedback from an ad-hoc advisory committee, commissioners last week tabbed Andrew Reeves of Sound Law Center to be the land-use hearing examiner for the next three years.
Before a new public defense contract is signed, the advisory committee will examine at least four options for public defense in Clallam County.
The four options as presented Monday are:
■ Keep the current system with one contractor providing public defense in superior, district and juvenile courts.
■ Bid separately with one public defense contract for superior and juvenile courts and a second contract for district court. Commissioners considered this option late last year.
■ Establish a public defense ombudsman, a county employee who would develop and oversee a list of qualified public defenders.
■ Bring public defense in-house by establishing a new county department.
“I don’t think [the options] were fully vetted last year,” Chapman said.
Potential members
Gasnick and County Administrator Jim Jones said they complied a list of professionals who might be willing to serve on the public defender advisory committee.
“We’ve identified people in the community who have a real good grip on the criminal justice system and public defense,” Gasnick told commissioners.
“Basically, they’re the best equipped people that we could think of to answer whatever questions the commissioners come up with regarding the structure of a public defense delivery system.”
Jones suggested that the board “narrow down” the focus of the advisory group before selecting its members.
Gasnick said commissioners could frame their questions to the advisory panel after it is formed.
“That might expedite the process,” Gasnick said.
August recommendation
Chapman said he would like the committee to examine the four options, and possibly others, and make a recommendation by early August.
“Then the board can take it from there,” Chapman said.
“But then there will have been a process and a thorough discussion. This issue will have been looked at again, and then we can move forward and hopefully we can move forward with the three-year contract and plan, much like we did with the hearing examiner.
“This is an important issue, and if people have different ideas as to how we’re delivering our service, let’s get some professionals together to advise the board so we can make a good decision,” Chapman added.
Chapman and Peach agreed to discuss the public defender advisory committee again next Monday to give Ozias a chance to weigh in.
“We can narrow down the focus of what we want them to do next week,” Chapman said.
Cascadia Rising
In other discussion from the work session, commissioners had their final briefing on the Cascadia Rising emergency preparedness exercise, which begins today and runs through Friday.
The massive, multi-agency drill will simulate the response to a 9.0-magnitude earthquake in the Cascadia Subduction Zone off the Washington coast and resulting tsunami.
The public will see some aspects of the drill but much of the tabletop exercise will go unnoticed, officials have said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
