Courthouse space set for public defenders

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Courthouse space set for public defenders

Hope is for court to move back eventually

By Maribeth Holtz

mholtz@...

Published: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 1:10 AM EST

Chronicle-Tribune - n,IN,USA

http://www.chronicle-

tribune.com/articles/2009/01/28/news/doc497fd0137c2ea706625400.txt

Space in the Grant County Courthouse left vacant five months ago

because of potential mold will now be used by attorneys defending

the indigent.

Grant County commissioners Tuesday approved that public defenders

use the judge's chambers in the former Grant Superior Court 2.

The offices and courtroom were left vacant in August when Judge

Randall moved his court to the Willis Van Devanter Grant

County Complex because he said mold was affecting his health.

The space will now be home to Chief Public Defender Rittman,

a secretary and volunteer interns.

Rittman said office space is needed for public defenders now because

of a new system that will make for fewer hourly appointments and

have Rittman as the full-time public defender. The changes were made

to make funding for public defenders more predictable and possibly

save the county money.

Commissioner Glickfield said public defenders using the space

should be temporary; he hopes the Superior Court 2 will one day

return to the courthouse.

" I hate the thought that Superior 2 (may) permanently … stay in (the

county complex, " Glickfield said. " I don't like that at all. … It

creates all kind of headaches. "

Mold and mildew remediation is scheduled to start this spring on the

courthouse, as well as facade and roof improvements.

Glickfield and fellow Commissioner Diller said they believe

commissioners ultimately have the authority over where county courts

are housed.

" The goal is still to have Superior Court 2 back in the courthouse, "

Glickfield said.

Also at the meeting, commissioners:

•Discussed health insurance, saying they may need to ask for money

back from the County Council's $500,000 cut because there's no

wiggle room for claims that are more than expected.

The total expected in claims for 2009 is $3.4 million. What may be

left over for 2008 — about $890,000 — and what the council

appropriated — $2.5 million — adds up to $3.4 million.

" There's no more money to take out, " Commissioner Mark Bardsley said.

Glickfield said it would probably be best to have more money in the

insurance account to plan for unexpected claims, and he said

commissioners need to make it clear to the council the needs of that

account as local elected officials debate where cuts can be made to

budgets.

•Approved a federal grant application for drug court.

The grant is for $307,042, and would require a $107,174 local match.

Grant Circuit Court Judge Mark Spitzer said the two-year grant would

enhance programming for the drug court, improve training and

increase access for minorities.

He said the local match is already in the local drug court budget.