WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
St. Joseph County officials plan to discuss whether to approve a staffing request for the prosecutor’s office.
The matter was raised during Wednesday’s executive committee meeting.
Commissioners heard a grim report from prosecutor David Marvin, who said according to circuit court judge Paul Stutesman, there are about 600 felony cases backlogged at the moment. He said 19 of the 600 cases are capital cases, which are situations that typically result in a defendant spending life in prison.
Including Marvin, there are currently four attorneys in the prosecutor’s office. County administrator Teresa Doehring said there was a time the office had four assistant prosecutors in addition to the elected prosecutor, so a fifth lawyer on the team would not be unprecedented.
Commissioner Kathy Pangle said she trusts Marvin and his judgment in what it will take for the prosecutor’s office to weather the impending storm. She said she will support Marvin’s request when commissioners debate the matter at their meeting Tuesday next week.
