Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Indigent Defense topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Graham County approves FY26 indigent defense contracts for seven attorneys
Summary
The Graham County Board of Supervisors approved renewals and new indigent defense agreements for multiple attorneys for fiscal year 2026, preserving existing caseloads, stipends and a juvenile representation expansion the board said is now mandated by state rule.
The Graham County Board of Supervisors on a voice vote approved indigent defense agreements for seven attorneys covering adult and juvenile appointments for fiscal year 2026.
Mindy Young, a representative of the Superior Court, told the board she was presenting nine contracts and said, “This contract mirrors fiscal year 25. There are no increases or modifications to this contract. And it's the same case load, 140 cases.”
The board approved adult indigent defense agreements for Dennis P. McCarthy, Rebecca Johnson, Daisy Flores, Raymond Geiser and Stephen Robertson and renewed adult and juvenile contracts for Josie Y. Lopez and Rebecca Johnson. Young noted Attorney McCarthy’s contract includes a $5,000 annual stipend for his role as legal advocate for the Graham County Adult Veterans and Community Wellness Court and said, “we currently have approximately 40 individuals on community wellness right now and they're really, helping a lot of people with that stipend.”
The contracts generally mirror FY25 terms, Young said, and do not increase per-case rates. Several attorneys have separate, standalone juvenile delinquency contracts; Young presented the juvenile contracts for Josie Y. Lopez, Rebecca Johnson and Raymond Geiser as renewals or continuations. Young said Geiser was added pro rata in FY25 to help with a high caseload and “has been a huge help to Ms. Lopez and Ms. Johnson.”
Supervisor Howard thanked Young for the clarity of the contract materials and praised the attorneys’ work, saying their service “is a great toolset for Graham County” when diverting and reducing recidivism. A board member noted the county budget includes the cost of providing counsel and observed the county spends “over $600,000 a year” on statutory obligations to provide representation.
Board members made motions to approve each contract in turn; each motion passed after the board answered “Aye” on the voice vote. The board did not change caseload limits, compensation terms or stipends in the renewals presented.
What this means going forward: the county will continue using the same indigent defense appointment structure and stipend levels described by Young for FY26. Young and the board referenced a state requirement that juveniles receive appointed counsel; Young said she would defer to the county attorney for legal specifics on that mandate.
The board’s approvals put the FY26 contracts in place; Young said the Superior Court will continue to manage appointments under those agreements.
