Conflict Counsel's office has always been understaffed, they just lost an attorney

 

I have reported on two Humboldt Deputy County Counsel's leaving and in the last few months, I have mentioned in more than one posy, there will be more people leaving County jobs. The offices of the Public Defender and Conflict Counsel are both County positions. The Conflict Counsel is woefully understaffed compared to the Public Defenders office and on September 14, a Deputy Conflict Counsel resigned. From what I have seen at the courthouse and checking the State Bar website, I am pretty sure it is Deputy Conflict Counsel Michael Casey who was the most recent hire.

I saw Conflict Counsel Supervising Attorney Megan working a few minutes past the noon hour last week. This exception to the hiring office is a no brainer. 

Experienced employees are leaving, retiring from the County. The same is happening with the courts. I just saw Self Help court assistant Cecile Nesslage yesterday and she retired.

Pay, housing, healthcare are issues everyone in Humboldt faces. Work environment is the number one factor. It is stressful to work in that building and will always be.