J. ADAMS: In defense of defender

Judge Earl Johnson, Jr. said, “Poor people have access to the courts in the same sense that the Christians had access to the lions.” Everyone needs counsel when the state, the non-breathing entity, files a criminal charge on one of its people, the breathers like you and me.

John Adams’ support comes from the National Legal Aid and Defender Association, attorneys, retired judge and former Prosecutor Douglas, saying Adams’ firing is “unnecessary meddling by the commissioners.” Agreed. Commissioners, be wannabe accountants, not attorneys.

“These terms aren’t meant to be indefinite,” said [Jai] Nelson. “People don’t own these offices.” Quite right she is. Her term became available because the last term-holder was dismissed. An issue at the time had commissioners raising criminal attorneys’ pay—a comprehensive study finding woeful underpayment—then stripped half that pay giving themselves a raise. That performance improvement found previous commissioners on the street. Is that the intent of the current bunch?

To Adams budgeting, he operates about a half million dollars less than the prosecutor’s office. A recent article in The Press highlighted almost twofold increases in conflict attorney costs over last year, costs administered by commissioners, not Adams. Commissioners, fix your own plumbing leaks first.

Bosses as buds at work may make for slackers, better bosses that get results. Adams proved this with many past underperforming commissioners.

Do the study, make a determination of viability, then keep or replace current systems and people. Don’t pasture the horse leaving defender-less citizens in a horse-less cart.

Plan first, implement second. Duh.

JEFFREY JESKE

Post Falls