Potter County court approves interlocal with Lubbock for medical-examiner services to limit unexpected forensic costs

The Potter County Commissioners Court voted 5-0 to approve an interlocal agreement with Lubbock County to provide medical-examiner services and establish a fixed fee schedule for forensic pathology work.

Jason Herring, who presented the proposal, said the county has seen "sticker shock" when unknown forensic pathologists appeared on cases and charged rates well above historical averages, and that "what we're looking to do is have a predictable cost." He told commissioners that a scheduled fee structure and a pool of vetted doctors would reduce surprise expenses that currently fall to prosecuting offices and the county's witness and trial-prep budgets.

Herring described past instances in which a previously unknown pathologist produced autopsy reports and the prosecutor's office only learned their identity at trial prep, creating potential legal and budgetary risks. The interlocal agreement and the recommended use of a contracted scheduling organization would provide a roster of vetted practitioners and a fixed billing schedule, he said.

The court approved the interlocal and separately authorized the county purchasing/procurement staff to solicit qualifications for professional services for expert testimony and scheduling, which Herring and counsel said would be used to implement the controlled-cost model. The action was described by staff as intended to move forensic costs from an uncontrolled variable into a predictable budget line for future trials.