During a recent government meeting, officials discussed the ongoing need for legal representation in child welfare cases, specifically regarding the appointment of attorneys for parents involved in Child in Need of Protective Services (CHIP) and Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) cases. Crow Wing County is mandated by law to provide legal counsel in these situations, and currently, three contracted attorneys rotate in handling these cases.

However, the county faces a challenge as one of the contracted attorneys, Marina, will soon transition to a position with the county attorney's office, rendering her unable to continue providing the necessary legal services. This development has prompted discussions about securing a replacement to ensure continuity in legal representation for affected families.

Conrad Craigness, another attorney who has previously worked with the county, was mentioned as a potential resource. He has a new attorney, Cody Schmidt, in his firm who has expressed willingness to take over Marina's cases. Schmidt is prepared to accept the same compensation that was allocated for Marina's services, which would help maintain the current level of legal support for parents in these critical cases. The county is now considering this transition to ensure that legal obligations are met without interruption.