Two Deputy DAs out sick this week, Deputy DA Schaffer handles their cases as well as her own; deja vu with former DA Magie Fleming being in the courtroom

Deputy District Attorney Whitney Timm and Deputy DA Carolyn Schaffer are specially assigned to CAST cases. That is an intense caseload. In addition to that, they also handle other major cases.  Both of them and Deputy DA Roger Rees prosecute serious, violent and life crimes and all three are among the few, experienced long term prosecutors currently at the Humboldt District Attorney's office. With Ms. Timm and Mr. Rees out sick; Ms. Schaffer held down the fort by herself this week. She appeared on her cases; their cases which include a current jury trial.

When former DA Maggie Fleming was in charge, seeing her on the second floor was a regular occurence; especially if the office was shorthanded. As I reported before; she has been helping out part time. Today, I spoke with her briefly about the cases she works on and they involve specific defendants currently in prison and a possible change in their custody status. One example is writ of habeas corpus cases.