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District Attorney Earley Wiley warns of intake backlog, proposes converting receptionist to paralegal duties
Summary
Kaufman County District Attorney Earley Wiley said her office is about 100 cases behind on intake and proposed flexing a receptionist role into paralegal duties to handle paperwork rather than adding a full new hire; she also outlined risks if several grant-funded positions phase out.
District Attorney Earley Wiley told the commissioners that her office’s operating budget shows a decrease only because capital trial expenditures were removed, and she proposed repurposing an existing receptionist role to take on paralegal and intake responsibilities.
"Instead of adding a total position, maximize the position we already have," Wiley said, arguing that the receptionist could be trained and paid initially at a lower step while performing expanded paralegal duties. She told the court the office has added attorneys through grants but lacks the intake and paralegal staff to keep pace with filings and is "about 100 cases behind." Wiley said that backlog prevents the clerk’s office from processing filings promptly.
Wiley also reviewed the county’s grant-funded positions, estimating roughly $500,000 in combined grant-supported salaries (task force prosecutors, domestic-violence prosecutor/investigator and a grant coordinator). She cautioned commissioners that some state grants could phase out and recommended cautious planning: "We know it'll get reimbursed this year," she said, but "all good things can come to an end."
The DA asked the court to consider either a paralegal hire or reclassification of existing staff to reduce overtime and improve case intake flow. The court did not take a final vote during the workshop; staff were directed to review options and cost implications.
