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9:05 a.m. Held a Board of Equalization meeting. <br /> 9:08 a.m. Adjourned the Board Equalization meeting. <br /> PUBLIC PARTICIPATION — Chair Peterson called or public participation and no one <br /> responded. <br /> 4.COUNTY ATTORNEY— DISCUSSION & POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE <br /> AUTOMATIC APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL FOR ALL JUVENILES WHO HAS <br /> COMMITTED AN ACT, OTHER THAN A TRAFFIC OFFENSE, WHICH WOULD <br /> CONSTITUTE A MISDEMEANOR OR AN INFRACTION UNDER THE LAW OF THIS <br /> STATE — County Attorney Marty Klein, Vicki Kenny Public Defender, Sidnea Brown, and <br /> Attorney Shanahan were present. <br /> Marty said he would like to discuss with the board the automatic appointment of an <br /> attorney for all juveniles for misdemeanors or felonies. Larger counties are doing this <br /> for misdemeanors, traffic offenses or felonies and there could be some impact to the <br /> county board. Buffalo County currently also appoints attorneys like the larger counties. <br /> This would impact the public defender's office. Sidnea Brown is a juvenile attorney and <br /> she said that she handled 432 cases by herself last year. Juveniles are appointed an <br /> attorney if it is a felony or if they fall under a certain age. They are currently way under <br /> that number and she does not feel they would have to get out of any of those cases <br /> unless there was a conflict of interest. There are also 2 juvenile attorneys now. She <br /> also noted they are way under budget this year for the court appointed attorneys. <br /> Marty said there is value in efficiency if all juveniles are appointed an attorney by having <br /> an attorney that will help them navigate the process. Sidnea noted that she talked to <br /> Judge McQuay and the juvenile may be ordered to complete classes or other directions <br /> from the Judge then if they fail to fulfil the requirements of the probation they are back <br /> in court. The attorney would help the juveniles, and you won't see the kids back in <br /> court. <br /> Peterson ask if there is a method to determine if they are eligible to use a public <br /> defender. Sidnea said most juveniles would be eligible, but the judges do base it on the <br /> parents' income. <br /> Marty gave an example if 5 kids steal a car the public defender could take one case, but <br /> the others would have to be appointed an attorney. So, there would be the automatic <br /> appointment but cases like this are very rare and he does not believe we will face many <br /> situations like that. They are asking for the automatic appointment of an attorney for <br /> juveniles for misdemeanors or felonies. <br /> Vicki Kenny said there is a small number that do not ask for an attorney, it would make it <br /> simpler to have an attorney appointed. Sidnea noted that in a total of 300 cases only 70 <br /> 3 <br />