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Cowlitz County public defender warns Supreme Court caseload standards will force staffing changes
Summary
The county’s public defense director told commissioners new state caseload standards based on the RAND study will require hiring at least one full‑time attorney by 2026 and that district court appointments outside county policy are driving up his budget.
Cowlitz County public defense director Ian (surname not specified) told the Board of County Commissioners that new caseload standards adopted after a RAND study and taken up by the Washington Supreme Court will force staffing changes in smaller counties.
Ian said the Supreme Court adopted a phase‑in that will require counties to reduce case‑weighted assignments by 10% per year and reach a much lower 10‑year standard. "The writing is on the wall for the next 3 years," he said. He described the 10‑year standard for felony case credits as 47, while Cowlitz currently assigns the equivalent of about 150 felony case credits; for misdemeanors he said the 10‑year projection is 120 credits versus his current ability to assign 450. "I think in the year of 2026, I will need 1 more full time attorney position, and that's what I'm requesting," Ian said, adding he plans to return to the board next Tuesday with a request…
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