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Grant County judge proposes a part‑time referee to speed low‑level criminal cases and ease jail overcrowding
Summary
Jason McVicker, identified in the agenda as Grant County Superior Court 2, urged the council to create a referee position to handle level‑6 felonies and OWI cases three days a week, arguing it would free higher courts for serious felonies and reduce costly out‑of‑county inmate housing; council agreed to form a committee and asked for caseload and budget data.
Jason McVicker, listed on the meeting agenda as representing Grant County Superior Court 2, presented a plan to appoint a part‑time referee to handle most level‑6 felonies and OWI cases, saying the change would free other courts to focus on higher‑level felonies and allow defendants to have earlier trials.
"If anybody wants a trial, they should have their trial," McVicker said, arguing that congestion in higher courts has forced repeated continuances and extended pretrial incarceration. He said removing routine level‑6 dockets would let Grant County Superior Court 3 address more serious cases held in the county jail.
McVicker noted the county is paying for out‑of‑county housing for inmates and cited counts provided in his remarks (examples in the record: Fulton County 68, Tipton 17) as a driver of costs. He proposed the referee work three days a week at roughly three‑fifths of a magistrate's salary and said implementation would likely require one additional probation officer to supervise increased probation caseloads.
Council members pressed for data that would justify the change and asked for comparative caseload metrics and a breakdown of the current jail population by offense level, continuance status and awaiting‑trial status. McVicker said he would provide the requested information and recommended a stakeholder committee be formed to study logistics (location, technology needs, budget, and statutory steps required to close or reconfigure city courts if necessary).
The council agreed to create a committee of three council members to work with the judiciary, probation, prosecutors and public defenders to develop a budget and an implementation plan. The judiciary will place the referee proposal on its December agenda for follow‑up.
Next steps: McVicker will email the council the caseload documentation he cited and the members of the study committee will meet before the council's December session to report recommendations.
