GAINESVILLE - A report critical of the operation of the public defender's office that serves Hall and Dawson counties will help the state legislature in dealing with some issues that need correcting.
That's the opinion of state Representative James Mills of Gainesville who chairs the commission.
"Well, personally, (I think) there needs to be a greater level of accountability," Mills said Thursday.
The report was issued earlier this week. The man who runs the office, Brad Morris, says he has reviewed the document and is seeking whatever advice and information that would be available in improving our office. (See earlier story. Link below.)
The 31-page report is also critical of the group charged with selecting the public defender and Mills says that criticism is right on target.
He says such groups - which are allowed to have secret meetings and secret votes - "really don't answer to anyone...and then when asked in a public forum what those votes were and refuse to reveal those to the public, I think that need to be addressed."
Mills criticized the selection committee a month ago after it reappointed public defender Brad Morris, saying it should not have acted until after his commission's report was released. Superior Court Judge Kathlene Gosselin, who chairs the selection committee, defended its work at the time saying it was facing a deadline to make the appointment by the end of the year.
Friday
October 25th, 2024
7:28PM
