Dimmit County Commissioners Court discussed where to locate office space for a newly funded Tri‑County public defender office that will serve defendants in local criminal matters. Commissioners and staff said the office will need multiple rooms to accommodate multiple attorneys, support staff and an investigator; numbers discussed ranged from three to five offices.

County staff said the public defender program is already in existence statewide and that the grant application had been coordinated with nearby counties. Commissioners emphasized this discussion was preliminary — the court did not take a formal vote but directed staff to meet with public defender representatives to determine specific space, security and equipment needs and to report back with options.

Why it matters: Establishing a local public defender office affects where indigent defense services are delivered and has implications for county facilities, ongoing operating costs and budgeting. Commissioners noted the public defender office and the district attorney are separate offices with different timelines (the district attorney space request was described as a later, separate planning item).

What’s next: Staff will schedule a meeting with public defender representatives and return to the commission with recommendations on available county properties and a proposed timeline to house attorneys, investigators and support staff.

Sources: Court discussion of agenda item 3.17, referenced staff communications and a grant that led to creation of a Tri‑County public defender arrangement.