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Extracted from Consolidated Report
This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 3 findings
F1
The public defender’s office is doing a good job of representing indigent criminal defendants.
F2
Approximately one-half of the attorneys have applications out for other employment.
F3
Public Defender Teri Monterosso has maintained the office's excellent representation for criminal defendants in the county.
Recommendations 4
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R1The current public defender system should be retained.
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R2The current Public Defender, Terri Monterosso, should be retained by the Board of Supervisors, but her continued appointment should be reviewed in two years to see if she continues to hold the office together while maintaining its effectiveness delivering the county's indigent criminal defense.
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R3Whenever a new public defender is needed, the Board of Supervisors should employ a formal system incorporating the views of the very well regarded judges and lawyers involved in the criminal justice system of El Dorado County. The Board should then task this blue ribbon committee or committees with picking only finalists for the position who are highly qualified to effectively lead the office to at least adequate, if not excellent, defense of indigent criminal defendants. Thus the Board will not be forced to make decisions in an area where it cannot possibly have any actual knowledge let alone expertise. At the very least, the Board should get the approval of the county's criminal law attorneys and judges that the proposed candidate is qualified, if not highly qualified to be the Chief Public Defender. RESPONSES Responses to both findings and recommendations in this Report are required by law in accordance with California Penal Code §933 and §933.05. Address responses to: The Honorable Suzanne N. Kingsbury Presiding Judge of the El Dorado County Superior Court 1354 Johnson Blvd. South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 This Report has been provided to the El Dorado County Public Defender and El Dorado County Board of Supervisors. The Presiding Judge of the El Dorado County Superior Court additionally requests that the responses be sent electronically as a Word or PDF file to facilitate the economical and timely distribution of such responses. Please email responses to the El Dorado County Grand Jury at: [email protected]
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R4Each member of the EDUHSD Board of Trustees should recognize his or her own responsibility for the decisions and actions of the Board. No one member is entitled to deference not given to other members. RESPONSES Responses to both findings and recommendations in this Report are required by law in accordance with California Penal Code §933 and §933.05. Address responses to: The Honorable Suzanne N. Kingsbury Presiding Judge of the El Dorado County Superior Court 1354 Johnson Blvd. South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 This Report has been provided to the El Dorado Union High School District Board of Trustees. The Presiding Judge of the El Dorado County Superior Court requests that responses be sent electronically as a Word or PDF file to facilitate economical and timely distribution. Please email responses to the El Dorado County Grand Jury at: [email protected]