« Courts - More on: Justice Dept. no-bid contracts with John Ashcroft and the Indiana twist | Main | Ind. Courts - Even more on: "Lawyer guilty of attack on woman in wheelchair" »

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Ind. Courts - "New Marion County public defender will face budget cuts"

Jon Murray of the Indianapolis Star reports today on the appointment of a new Marion County public defender and the challenges he will face. Some quotes:

An Indianapolis defense attorney appointed Wednesday as Marion County’s chief public defender will face budget cuts and a thorny dispute over employees taking private clients.

Robert J. Hill Jr. will take over April 21 for David E. Cook. The Public Defender Agency’s board voted 7-0 to hire Hill over the other finalist, attorney Eric K.
Koselke, and the appointment now will go to the City-County Council for confirmation.

Hill, who stepped down from the board to seek the top position, worked for the agency from 1994 to 2000, including time as Cook’s deputy chief.

Since then, he has worked in private practice and as a contract public defender.

“It’s a passionate thing for me,” Hill told the board before the vote. “I think I can really make a difference in the office. As lawyers, if we don’t take care of those without money . . . I think the system will break down.”

The Public Defender Agency provides criminal defense for indigent clients in 37,000 cases a year in Marion Superior Court.

Cook has delayed his departure a second time to smooth the transition. He is leaving the post after 13 years to join Indianapolis law firm Gresk & Singleton.

For background, start with this ILB entry from March 7th.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on March 13, 2008 09:52 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts