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Judges tell Grant County Council felony filings and jail census have surged; referee position proposed
Summary
Judges and stakeholders told the Grant County Council felony filings and pretrial caseloads have risen sharply and recommended creating a locally funded referee post (part‑time) to speed case processing; council asked staff for IT and cost estimates before taking action.
Grant County judges told the county council that felony filings have climbed sharply over the last decade and that the county’s jail population is near capacity, prompting discussion about a locally funded referee position to help clear dockets and reduce off‑site housing costs.
Judge McVicker presented caseload figures and argued that the county needs additional judicial capacity or operational changes to prevent jail overcrowding. “In 2024, we’ve had about 5 felonies filed every weekday,” the judge said, summarizing court records showing felonies rose from about 766 in 2014 to 1,220 in 2023; the judge said the court is on pace for roughly 1,350 felonies in 2024. The judge also cited a current custody count of about 374 inmates, with roughly 274 in the county jail and about 100 housed off‑site.
Councillors and judicial officers discussed options including a part‑time referee, a locally funded probation officer, or seeking a state‑funded judicial officer through the legislative process (a longer timetable). Council members and judges agreed on the need for measurable performance metrics if the county funds a referee: suggested metrics included the jail census, number of cases closed and Monday jury trials completed.
Council members requested a detailed IT and equipment cost estimate (including recording and case‑management software) and asked staff to check for usable space in the courthouse or neighboring facilities before moving the issue to a formal motion. A number of members said they favored a trial period with clearly defined metrics but differed on ideal trial length; some suggested 18–30 months to show measurable effect.
Several speakers also pushed back against prior public statements that courts were not operating on Fridays; Judge McVicker stressed that a locked courtroom does not mean the judge is not working and cited clearance rates and docket activity as evidence of ongoing operations.
No final vote was taken on the referee position: council asked the committee and judges for additional cost information and will revisit the item after receiving IT estimates and space availability details.
