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Judge warns Steuben County may run short of attorneys for CHINS cases; translator demand high in criminal matters
Summary
Steuben County Circuit Court Judge Jeremy Musser told the County Council he is concerned the court could run out of attorneys to appoint for Children in Need of Services (CHINS) cases and said demand for criminal-court translators is "astronomical." No formal action resulted; the council heard the update June 10.
Jeremy Musser, Steuben County Circuit Court judge, told the County Council on June 10 that there were "not very many changes to report," but voiced concern that the court could run out of attorneys to appoint for Children in Need of Services (CHINS) cases. Musser also said the need for translators in criminal cases is "astronomical," while translator needs in civil cases remain minimal.
The update was presented as an informational report; no appropriation or directive followed directly from Musser's remarks. County officials later discussed related staffing and funding items in other agenda segments, including the county's pending application for a Public Defender Program grant. HR Administrator Erin Schiffli told the council she has not yet received notification about the county's Public Defender Program grant request and confirmed that CHINS case counts would be included in the program's reporting, which ends June 30, 2025.
Musser's comments underscore two operational pressures for the local court system: reliance on appointed counsel for CHINS cases and growing demand for interpreter services in criminal proceedings. The council did not vote on court staffing or interpreter funding during the meeting; further action would depend on grant outcomes or separate appropriation requests.
