County judges warn attorney shortages have forced dozens of case dismissals

Mason County judges and the county prosecutor told the commission that shortages in defense counsel and lab backlogs are hampering the courts and forcing case delays and dismissals.

Judge Steele described long turnaround times at the state toxicology lab and the limited availability of public defense attorneys. “I have had to dismiss now 25 cases without prejudice,” he said, adding that delays in toxicology testing and unclear new caseload credit rules complicate the court’s ability to proceed to trial. He warned that recent changes in statewide public‑defense standards, and uncertainty about how case credits are defined and allocated, risk making meaningful compliance impossible in some jurisdictions.

Judge Cobb told commissioners the shortage of defense counsel has already affected juvenile calendars, with some calendars proceeding without defense attorneys and preventing the court from handling matters as the legislature intended. “We have had calendars with no defense attorneys,” he said, noting that the shortage forces dismissals and delays that ripple across prosecutors’ offices, the sheriff’s office and court operations.

The county Prosecuting Attorney described a recent period of turnover in legal support staff and said the office is rebuilding capacity. He said training opportunities from the Prosecutor Association and on‑the‑job learning are underway but emphasized it will take time for newer staff to gain institutional knowledge.

Commissioners asked about next steps; judges and the prosecutor discussed continuing outreach to legislators and the state judiciary and urged sustained attention to staffing and lab capacity. No formal action or vote was taken at the meeting.