[Vision2020] Questions about the office of Public Defender
DonaldH675@aol.com
DonaldH675@aol.com
Fri, 2 Jan 2004 18:14:20 EST
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Visionaries:
The following is a copy of the letter I just sent to our Latah County=20
Commissioners. It is my hope that they will respond to my questions. I wil=
l share=20
their response (if any) with Vision 20/20.
=20
Best,=20
Rose Huskey
=20
=20
January 2, 2004
=20
Latah Country Board of Commissioners
Latah Country Court House, Room 4 B
Moscow, Idaho, 83843
=20
Dear Commissioners Kimmell, Nelson and Stronshein:
=20
Could you please share with me the process for selecting public defenders in=
=20
Latah County? Is the successful candidate(s) chosen as a consequence of the=
=20
lowest bid? What other criteria is used to determine the outcome of the=20
selection process? =20
=20
After selection, how do you monitor job performance? Is there a formal=20
procedure in place for annual or semi-annual performance evaluation? I unde=
rstand=20
that Part b of Idaho Code 19-864 applies to Public Defenders working directl=
y=20
in a county office, rather than the contract public defenders in Latah Count=
y.=20
Nonetheless, it seems a useful tool for performance review.
=20
[Idaho Code 19-864 says:
(a) A defending attorney shall keep appropriate records respecting each=20
needy person whom he represents under this act.
(b) The public defender in those counties electing to establish and=20
maintains such an office, shall submit an annual report to the board of coun=
ty=20
commissioners showing the number of persons represented under this act, the=20=
crimes=20
involved, the outcome of each case, and the expenditures (totaled by kind)=20
made in carrying out the responsibilities imposed by this act. A copy of th=
e=20
report shall also be submitted to each court having criminal jurisdiction in=
the=20
counties that the program serves.]
=20
Have you considered applying the same standard to Latah County public=20
defenders?
My concerns arise in part due to published articles in Credenda Agenda (a=20
magazine published in connection with Christ Church in Moscow) <credenda.org=
>=20
which were written by Latah County Public Defender, Greg Dickison. I have=20
attached the original email to Vision 20/20 which links edited quotations to=
the=20
original documents. Greg=E2=80=99s strongly worded preference for systemic=20=
application=20
of Mosaic Law coupled with his obvious disdain for elected officials of the=20
government are worrisome. For example, in Credenda/Agenda Vol. 5, No. 3, Gr=
eg=20
writes:
=E2=80=9CIf we have God-hating tyrants ruling over us (and we do), then we m=
ust=20
recognize that they rule by our invitation. Our civil government has rebelle=
d=20
against God. But it could not have done so unless we rebelled first. =E2=80=
=9C
I wonder that Greg can in good conscience accept his annual salary of $77,00=
0=20
dollars in the light of his disgust with non-biblical government. (See: By=20
Motion and Order signed a Professional Services Contract and Retainer as=20
Counsel for Indigent Persons between Latah County and Gregory C. Dickison, f=
or a=20
two-year contract, effective October 1, 2003 through September 30, 2005, in=20=
the=20
amount of $154,000.00,payable in monthly installments.=20
http://www.latah.id.us/Dept/BOCC/2003/09_09_22_03Proceedings.pdf)
And I wonder how in good conscience you spend tax payers dollars with=20
apparently (I hope I am wrong about this) little or no oversight. on a publi=
c=20
defender who declares:
=E2=80=9CMeting out punishment requires an understanding of what punishment=20=
is. God's=20
Word is not silent on this point. God's law sets forth three basic=20
punishments for crime: death, lashing (essentially, a government-sponsored s=
panking),=20
and restitution. There is a conspicuous absence of county jails, state=20
penitentiaries, reform schools, and hospitals for the criminally insane. The=
se=20
institutions reflect the unbiblical assumption that criminals are basically=20=
good men=20
who just got off on the wrong foot. These forms of "punishment" treat crime=20=
as=20
a product of ignorance (like thinking that two and two make five), or as a b=
ad=20
habit (like sucking your thumb), rather than as sin. They do not address the=
=20
true problem, and it should not come as a surprise that they are ineffective=
. =E2=80=9C
Thank you for your attention to my concerns. I will share your response(s)=20
with other interested Latah County citizens on Vision 20/20.
Sincerely,
Rosemary Huskey
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<DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><st1:date Month=3D"1" Day=
=3D"2" Year=3D"2004"><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3>Visionaries:</F=
ONT></st1:date></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><st1:date Month=3D"1" Day=
=3D"2" Year=3D"2004"><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3>The following i=
s a copy of the letter I just sent to our Latah County Commissioners. =20=
It is my hope that they will respond to my questions. I will share the=
ir response (if any) with Vision 20/20.</FONT></st1:date></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><st1:date Month=3D"1" Day=
=3D"2" Year=3D"2004"><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3></FONT></st1:da=
te> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><st1:date Month=3D"1" Day=
=3D"2" Year=3D"2004"><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3>Best, </FONT></=
st1:date></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><st1:date Month=3D"1" Day=
=3D"2" Year=3D"2004"><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3>Rose Huskey</FO=
NT></st1:date></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><st1:date Month=3D"1" Day=
=3D"2" Year=3D"2004"><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3></FONT></st1:da=
te> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><st1:date Month=3D"1" Day=
=3D"2" Year=3D"2004"><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3></FONT></st1:da=
te> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><st1:date Month=3D"1" Day=
=3D"2" Year=3D"2004"><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3>January 2, 2004=
</FONT></st1:date></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>Latah Country Board of Commissioners</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3D3><FONT face=
=3D"Times New Roman"><st1:Street><st1:address>Latah Country Court</st1:addre=
ss></st1:Street> House, Room 4 B</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><st1:place><FONT size=3D3=
><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><st1:City>Moscow</st1:City>, <st1:State>Idah=
o</st1:State>, <st1:PostalCode>83843</st1:PostalCode></FONT></FONT></st1:pla=
ce></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3D3><FONT face=
=3D"Times New Roman">Dear Commissioners Kimmell, Nelson and Stronshein:<o:p>=
</o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3D3><FONT face=
=3D"Times New Roman">Could you please share with me the process for selectin=
g public defenders in <st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Latah</st1:PlaceName> <st1:P=
laceType>County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>?<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes=
"> </SPAN>Is the successful candidate(s) chosen as a consequence of th=
e lowest bid?<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>What other crit=
eria is used to determine the outcome of the selection process?<SPAN style=
=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>After selection, how do you monitor job performance?<SPAN sty=
le=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Is there a formal procedure in place=20=
for annual or semi-annual performance evaluation?<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun=
: yes"> </SPAN>I understand that Part b of Idaho Code 19-864 applies t=
o Public Defenders working directly in a county office, rather than the cont=
ract public defenders in <st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Latah</st1:PlaceName> <st=
1:PlaceType>County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun:=20=
yes"> </SPAN>Nonetheless, it seems a useful tool for performance revie=
w.</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>[Idaho Code 19-864 says:</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25i=
n"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">(a)</SPAN><SPAN style=
=3D"FONT-SIZE: 7pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"> =20=
</FONT></SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">A defendin=
g attorney shall keep appropriate records respecting each needy person whom=20=
he represents under this act.</SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25i=
n"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">(b)</SPAN><SPAN style=
=3D"FONT-SIZE: 7pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"> =20=
</FONT></SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The public=
defender in those counties electing to establish and maintains such an offi=
ce, shall submit an annual report to the board of county commissioners showi=
ng the number of persons represented under this act, the crimes involved, th=
e outcome of each case, and the expenditures (totaled by kind) made in carry=
ing out the responsibilities imposed by this act. A copy of the report=
shall also be submitted to each court having criminal jurisdiction in the c=
ounties that the program serves.]<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>Have you considered applying the same standard to <st1:place>=
<st1:PlaceName>Latah</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType>County</st1:PlaceType></=
st1:place> public defenders?</FONT></P>
<H6><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-=
SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">My concerns arise in part due to&nbs=
p;published articles in <EM>Credenda Agenda</EM> (a magazine published in co=
nnection with Christ Church in Moscow) <credenda.org> which were writt=
en by Latah County Public Defender, Greg Dickison.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spaceru=
n: yes"> </SPAN>I have attached the original email to Vision 20/20 whi=
ch links edited quotations to the original documents.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spac=
erun: yes"> </SPAN>Greg=E2=80=99s strongly worded preference for=20=
systemic application of Mosaic Law coupled with his obvious disdain for=
elected officials of the government are worrisome.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacer=
un: yes"> </SPAN>For example, in <EM>Credenda/Agenda </EM><EM><SPAN st=
yle=3D"FONT-STYLE: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic">Vol. 5, No. 3, Greg=20=
writes:</SPAN></EM></SPAN><I style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN sty=
le=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></FONT></H6>
<P><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3>=E2=80=9CIf we have God-hating ty=
rants ruling over us (and we do), then we must recognize that they rule by o=
ur invitation. Our civil government has rebelled against God. But it could n=
ot have done so unless we rebelled first. =E2=80=9C</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>I wonder that Greg can in good conscience accept his annual s=
alary of $77,000 dollars in the light of his disgust with non-biblical gover=
nment.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> (See: By Motion and Order sig=
ned a Professional Services Contract and Retainer as Counsel for Indigent Pe=
rsons between Latah County and Gregory C. Dickison, for a two-year contract,=
effective October 1, 2003 through September 30, 2005, in the amount of $154=
,000.00,payable in monthly installments. <A href=3D"http://www.latah.id.us/D=
ept/BOCC/2003/09_09_22_03Proceedings.pdf">http://www.latah.id.us/Dept/BOCC/2=
003/09_09_22_03Proceedings.pdf</A>)</P></SPAN></FONT>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>And I wonder how in good conscience you spend tax payers doll=
ars with apparently (I hope I am wrong about this) little or no oversight. o=
n a public defender who declares:</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3>=E2=80=9CMeting out punishment re=
quires an understanding of what punishment is. God's Word is not silent on t=
his point. God's law sets forth three basic punishments for crime: death, la=
shing (essentially, a government-sponsored spanking), and restitution. There=
is a conspicuous absence of county jails, state penitentiaries, reform scho=
ols, and hospitals for </FONT><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3>the cr=
iminally insane. These institutions reflect the unbiblical assumption that c=
riminals are basically good men who just got off on the wrong foot. These fo=
rms of "punishment" treat crime as a product of ignorance (like thinking tha=
t two and two make five), or as a bad habit (like sucking your thumb), rathe=
r than as sin. They do not address the true problem, and it should not come=20=
as a surprise that they are ineffective. =E2=80=9C</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3>Thank you for your attention to m=
y concerns.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I will share your=
response(s) with other interested <st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Latah</st1:Plac=
eName> <st1:PlaceType>County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> citizens on Vision=20=
20/20.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3>Sincerely,</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3>Rosemary Huskey</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3></FONT> </P>
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