Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By RALPH ANSAMI
Bessemer — A work group designed to evaluate how legal services are rendered to indigent criminal defendants is being set up by Gogebic-Ontonagon Counties Circuit Court Judge Michael Pope.
The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs has approved indigent defense standards. Michigan counties are required to submit plans to the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission by Nov. 20.
In a letter to the Gogebic County Board, Pope said the work group will consist of the following people:
—Representatives of both the Gogebic and Ontonagon County Boards of Commissioners.
—The judges who serve within the 32nd district (Gogebic and Ontonagon counties).
—Prosecuting attorneys within the district.
—The current public defender.
—A representative of the Gogebic-Ontonagon Bar Association.
—The sheriffs within the 32nd district (Pete Matonich of Gogebic County and Dale Rantala of Ontonagon County.)
The Gogebic County Board appointed commissioner Dan Siirila, of Ironwood, to sit on the work group at its last session.
“Once the committee has been formed, an organizational meeting will be scheduled and the committee’s work will begin,” Pope wrote.