11092010 - News Article - Public defender should be named by week's end

Public defender should be named by week's end
Post-Tribune (IN)
November 9, 2010
www.newsbank.com
Porter County should have a new head of the public defender's office by the end of the week.

The six judges in the county didn't make a final decision on filling the position at their monthly meeting Monday. However, Judge Roger Bradford said they expect to have the decision by Friday.

Bradford, who is the judicial liaison for the public defender's office, declined to say what process the judges would use to choose a replacement for the late James V. Tsoutsouris, thus continuing a sense of secrecy while the decision is being made.

The judges previously decided not to publicly divulge how many applicants they received for the position or who the applicants are. However, the way they choose to make decisions could set precedence.

Tsoutsouris, who died unexpectedly on Sept. 29, had been the public defender since he was appointed in 1970. Then there were only three courts in the county and the county courts themselves were created by the state in 1976. He built the office up over the decades

from just himself to a staff of lawyers. Bradford previously confirmed that all the judges are familiar with all the applicants and that no one has applied from outside the area.

Under state law, the county could create a board to oversee the public defender's office instead of having this judicial oversight. The state would then reimburse the county for 40 percent of felony cases under that process However, the county would have to hire about seven more assistant public defenders and their staff, costing more money, Bradford said.