[Vision2020] Questions about the office of Public Defender
Tom Hansen
thansen@moscow.com
Fri, 2 Jan 2004 16:00:46 -0800
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Hey, Mr. Courtney -
Maybe you are right. Maybe we are spending way too much on taxes. How =
about an Excel chart showing state tax revenues lining the pockets of =
over-paid, anti-government public defenders?
Take Care,=20
Tom Hansen
Not On The Palouse, Not Ever
********************************************
The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds the =
most discoveries, is not Eureka! (i.e. I found it!) but 'That's =
funny...=E2=80=99
- Issac Asimov
********************************************=20
-----Original Message-----
From: vision2020-admin@moscow.com =
[mailto:vision2020-admin@moscow.com]On Behalf Of DonaldH675@aol.com
Sent: Friday, January 02, 2004 3:14 PM
To: vision2020@moscow.com
Subject: [Vision2020] Questions about the office of Public Defender
Visionaries:
The following is a copy of the letter I just sent to our Latah County =
Commissioners. It is my hope that they will respond to my questions. I =
will share 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 Latah County? Is the successful candidate(s) chosen as a =
consequence of the lowest bid? What other criteria is used to determine =
the outcome of the selection process? =20
=20
After selection, how do you monitor job performance? Is there a =
formal procedure in place for annual or semi-annual performance =
evaluation? I understand that Part b of Idaho Code 19-864 applies to =
Public Defenders working directly in a county office, rather than the =
contract public defenders in Latah County. 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 needy person whom he represents under this act.
(b) The public defender in those counties electing to establish =
and maintains such an office, shall submit an annual report to the board =
of county commissioners showing the number of persons represented under =
this act, the crimes involved, the outcome of each case, and the =
expenditures (totaled by kind) made in carrying out the responsibilities =
imposed by this act. A copy of the report shall also be submitted to =
each court having criminal jurisdiction in the counties that the program =
serves.]
=20
Have you considered applying the same standard to Latah County public =
defenders?
My concerns arise in part due to published articles in Credenda Agenda =
(a magazine published in connection with Christ Church in Moscow) =
<credenda.org> which were written by Latah County Public Defender, Greg =
Dickison. I have attached the original email to Vision 20/20 which =
links edited quotations to the original documents. Greg=E2=80=99s =
strongly worded preference for systemic application of Mosaic Law =
coupled with his obvious disdain for elected officials of the government =
are worrisome. For example, in Credenda/Agenda Vol. 5, No. 3, Greg =
writes:
=E2=80=9CIf we have God-hating tyrants ruling over us (and we do), =
then we must recognize that they rule by our invitation. Our civil =
government has rebelled 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 =
$77,000 dollars in the light of his disgust with non-biblical =
government. (See: By Motion and Order signed a Professional Services =
Contract and Retainer as Counsel for Indigent Persons 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. =
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 =
apparently (I hope I am wrong about this) little or no oversight. on a =
public defender who declares:
=E2=80=9CMeting out punishment requires an understanding of what =
punishment is. God's Word is not silent on this point. God's law sets =
forth three basic punishments for crime: death, lashing (essentially, a =
government-sponsored spanking), and restitution. There is a conspicuous =
absence of county jails, state penitentiaries, reform schools, and =
hospitals for the criminally insane. These institutions reflect the =
unbiblical assumption that criminals are basically good men who just got =
off on the wrong foot. These forms of "punishment" treat crime as a =
product of ignorance (like thinking that two and two make five), or as a =
bad habit (like sucking your thumb), rather than as sin. They do not =
address the 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) with other interested Latah County citizens on Vision 20/20.
Sincerely,
Rosemary Huskey
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<DIV><SPAN class=3D610075423-02012004>Hey, Mr. Courtney -</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D610075423-02012004></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D610075423-02012004>Maybe you are right. Maybe =
we are=20
spending way too much on taxes. How about an Excel chart showing =
state tax=20
revenues lining the pockets of over-paid, anti-government public=20
defenders?</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D610075423-02012004></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D610075423-02012004>Take Care, </SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D610075423-02012004></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D610075423-02012004>Tom Hansen</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D610075423-02012004>Not On The Palouse, Not =
Ever</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D610075423-02012004></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D610075423-02012004>
<P><FONT size=3D2>********************************************<BR>The =
most=20
exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds the most =
discoveries,=20
is not Eureka! (i.e. I found it!) but 'That's funny...=E2=80=99<BR>- =
Issac=20
Asimov<BR>********************************************</FONT> =
</P></SPAN></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr=20
style=3D"PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px =
solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV class=3DOutlookMessageHeader dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT=20
face=3DTahoma>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>=20
vision2020-admin@moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-admin@moscow.com]<B>On =
Behalf=20
Of </B>DonaldH675@aol.com<BR><B>Sent:</B> Friday, January 02, 2004 =
3:14=20
PM<BR><B>To:</B> vision2020@moscow.com<BR><B>Subject:</B> [Vision2020] =
Questions about the office of Public Defender<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><st1:date =
Year=3D"2004" Day=3D"2"=20
Month=3D"1"><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"=20
size=3D3>Visionaries:</FONT></st1:date></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><st1:date =
Year=3D"2004" Day=3D"2"=20
Month=3D"1"><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3>The following is a =
copy of the=20
letter I just sent to our Latah County Commissioners. It is my =
hope that=20
they will respond to my questions. I will share their response =
(if any)=20
with Vision 20/20.</FONT></st1:date></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><st1:date =
Year=3D"2004" Day=3D"2"=20
Month=3D"1"><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" =
size=3D3></FONT></st1:date> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><st1:date =
Year=3D"2004" Day=3D"2"=20
Month=3D"1"><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3>Best, =
</FONT></st1:date></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><st1:date =
Year=3D"2004" Day=3D"2"=20
Month=3D"1"><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3>Rose=20
Huskey</FONT></st1:date></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><st1:date =
Year=3D"2004" Day=3D"2"=20
Month=3D"1"><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" =
size=3D3></FONT></st1:date> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><st1:date =
Year=3D"2004" Day=3D"2"=20
Month=3D"1"><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" =
size=3D3></FONT></st1:date> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><st1:date =
Year=3D"2004" Day=3D"2"=20
Month=3D"1"><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3>January 2,=20
2004</FONT></st1:date></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times =
New Roman"=20
size=3D3>Latah Country Board of Commissioners</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT =
size=3D3><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman"><st1:Street><st1:address>Latah Country=20
Court</st1:address></st1:Street> House, Room 4 B</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><st1:place><FONT =
size=3D3><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman"><st1:City>Moscow</st1:City>,=20
<st1:State>Idaho</st1:State>,=20
<st1:PostalCode>83843</st1:PostalCode></FONT></FONT></st1:place></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT =
size=3D3><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman">Dear Commissioners Kimmell, Nelson and=20
Stronshein:<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT =
size=3D3><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman">Could you please share with me the process =
for=20
selecting public defenders in =
<st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Latah</st1:PlaceName>=20
<st1:PlaceType>County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>?<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Is the successful =
candidate(s) chosen=20
as a consequence of the lowest bid?<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> =20
</SPAN>What other criteria is used to determine the outcome of the =
selection=20
process?<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times =
New Roman"=20
size=3D3>After selection, how do you monitor job performance?<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Is there a formal procedure =
in place=20
for annual or semi-annual performance evaluation?<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I understand that Part b of =
Idaho Code=20
19-864 applies to Public Defenders working directly in a county =
office, rather=20
than the contract public defenders in=20
<st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Latah</st1:PlaceName>=20
<st1:PlaceType>County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Nonetheless, it seems a =
useful tool=20
for performance review.</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times =
New Roman"=20
size=3D3>[Idaho Code 19-864 says:</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">(a)</SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 7pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New =
Roman"> =20
</FONT></SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">A =
defending=20
attorney shall keep appropriate records respecting each needy person =
whom he=20
represents under this act.</SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">(b)</SPAN><SPAN=20
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=20
defender in those counties electing to establish and maintains such an =
office,=20
shall submit an annual report to the board of county commissioners =
showing the=20
number of persons represented under this act, the crimes involved, the =
outcome=20
of each case, and the expenditures (totaled by kind) made in carrying =
out the=20
responsibilities imposed by this act. A copy of the report shall =
also be=20
submitted to each court having criminal jurisdiction in the counties =
that the=20
program serves.]<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times =
New Roman"=20
size=3D3>Have you considered applying the same standard to=20
<st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Latah</st1:PlaceName>=20
<st1:PlaceType>County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> public =
defenders?</FONT></P>
<H6><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: =
bold">My=20
concerns arise in part due to published articles in <EM>Credenda=20
Agenda</EM> (a magazine published in connection with Christ Church in =
Moscow)=20
<credenda.org> which were written by Latah County Public =
Defender, Greg=20
Dickison.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I have =
attached the=20
original email to Vision 20/20 which links edited quotations to the =
original=20
documents.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>Greg=E2=80=99s strongly worded=20
preference for systemic application of Mosaic Law coupled =
with his=20
obvious disdain for elected officials of the government are =
worrisome.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>For example, in =
<EM>Credenda/Agenda=20
</EM><EM><SPAN style=3D"FONT-STYLE: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: =
italic">Vol. 5,=20
No. 3, Greg writes:</SPAN></EM></SPAN><I=20
style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN=20
style=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 tyrants ruling=20
over us (and we do), then we must recognize that they rule by our =
invitation.=20
Our civil government has rebelled against God. But it could not have =
done so=20
unless we rebelled first. =E2=80=9C</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times =
New Roman"=20
size=3D3>I wonder that Greg can in good conscience accept his annual =
salary of=20
$77,000 dollars in the light of his disgust with non-biblical =
government.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> (See: By Motion and Order signed a=20
Professional Services Contract and Retainer as Counsel for Indigent =
Persons=20
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=20
=
href=3D"http://www.latah.id.us/Dept/BOCC/2003/09_09_22_03Proceedings.pdf"=
>http://www.latah.id.us/Dept/BOCC/2003/09_09_22_03Proceedings.pdf</A>)</P=
></SPAN></FONT>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times =
New Roman"=20
size=3D3>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 =
public=20
defender who declares:</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3>=E2=80=9CMeting out =
punishment requires an=20
understanding of what punishment is. God's Word is not silent on this =
point.=20
God's law sets forth three basic punishments for crime: death, lashing =
(essentially, a government-sponsored spanking), and restitution. There =
is a=20
conspicuous absence of county jails, state penitentiaries, reform =
schools, and=20
hospitals for </FONT><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3>the =
criminally=20
insane. These institutions reflect the unbiblical assumption that =
criminals=20
are basically good men who just got off on the wrong foot. These forms =
of=20
"punishment" treat crime as a product of ignorance (like thinking that =
two and=20
two make five), or as a bad habit (like sucking your thumb), rather =
than as=20
sin. They do not address the true problem, and it should not come 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 my=20
concerns.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I will share =
your=20
response(s) with other interested=20
<st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Latah</st1:PlaceName>=20
<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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