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Duchesne County public defender office reports growing caseload, staffing plan
Summary
The newly established Duchesne County public defender office told commissioners it has hired two attorneys, is tracking roughly 280 appointed cases since last June and plans to add staff and office space as it absorbs more conflict cases from contractors.
The Duchesne County public defender office reported to the county commission on March 17 that it has been operating since January 2024, has hired two attorneys and is handling an expanding caseload that the office said totals about 280 appointed matters since June of last year.
The presenter, identified in the meeting only as the public defender, told commissioners the office recruited two full‑time attorneys, named in the presentation as Bricksley (contract/attorney) and Dallas Tate, and that both attended intensive trial training through the National Institute for Trial Advocacy. The office also said it has a social worker available on an hourly basis to assist clients with treatment access and dependency‑case requirements.
The public defender described an internal staffing shift that led to the non‑renewal of one contractor contract and the reallocation of juvenile conflict cases to the new office. “We did actually, did not renew one of the contracts for our contractors because we did have three attorneys in our office,” the presenter said. The office said it currently expects to hire one more attorney and to add another contract attorney for justice court work as demand requires.
Office officials told the commission they are coordinating closely with the Duchesne County prosecutor’s office and judges to reduce older cases set for trial and to route defendants with possession or paraphernalia charges toward treatment when appropriate. The presenter said roughly 5 to 10 percent of cases are first‑degree felonies (examples cited included attempted murder and serious assaults) and that the county participates in a state fund that provides capital‑defense attorneys for capital cases; the presenter said the county pays approximately $13,000 per year into that fund.
On operations the office said it has implemented case‑tracking software and that client response to in‑person local representation has been positive: “They get to meet their attorney and it establishes trust with the attorney,” the presenter said. The office also said it is preparing to occupy an additional office in the Irene Hanson building to accommodate staff working in different parts of the county.
Commission discussion addressed managing conflicts with the current contracted conflict attorney (referred to as Clint in the meeting) and the desire to have judges appoint the public defender office on non‑conflicted cases so the contract costs for conflict coverage decline over time. The public defender said that transition should begin in April and that the county will retain a conflict contract attorney for situations with more defendants than available county attorneys.
The presenter answered commissioner questions about verifying defendant financial affidavits for indigency and said audits are possible but typically more expensive than retaining representation; judges ultimately apply the statutory formula based on affidavits in many cases. The office said it has roughly $6,000 remaining in training funds to support additional continuing legal education this year.
The presentation closed with commissioners thanking the office for its work and expressing support for the local‑office model.
