Attorney Kerri Selleck, Barry County Chief Public Defender, is building a staff of attorneys for an indigent defense program in the Public Defender’s Office. Attorneys represent indigents in cases of felonies, misdemeanors, probation violation hearing in both circuit and district courts, Friend of the Court show-cause hearings and personal protection order violations.
Selleck selected a total of 10 attorneys, a number determined by the size of the county’s case load, and asked commissioners to approve it on Jan. 22.
Three commissioners voted against approval on Jan. 22 because of personal objections to one of the attorneys on the list. With one commissioner absent, the vote failed, but commissioners voted to bring it up again when all seven members were present. That vote is still pending.
Hastings attorney James Goulooze spoke at the commission’s committee of the whole meeting Tuesday saying his not being appointed to the list of public defenders should be reversed.
Goulooze said he was number 11 up for 10 positions on the list.
His main contentions were that he has 30 years’ experience practicing law, the last seven or eight years primarily as a public defender, with experience in serious felony cases, including 1st degree murder, and is well qualified to handle all types of cases.
He claimed one attorney on the list has been “absent” for 10 years and four others on the list are not qualified to handle high severity felonies, such as murders, for lack of experience.
“You have attorneys on that list that never try a case and never test evidence in a case. The one constant is that they are all friends with Ms. Selleck,” he said in a letter given to commissioners.
The application to be on the public defender list of attorneys asked only for years of experience, he said. When he asked for the criteria used in the selection he said he got it two weeks later, it was “full of half-truths, innuendo and conjecture.”
Goulooze said he knew of no animosity from Selleck toward him and said despite what happened, he thought the indigent defense program would work, and he could work with Selleck.//
Dealing with agenda items, the committee of the whole recommended approval of:
*a grant agreement with the Two Seven Oh, Inc. foundation for $2,500 to pay for spaying and neutering of animals at the Animal Shelter before adoption. Shelter Director Kenneth Kirsch said the county is paying for the procedures now, so the grant will save the county money.
*an Indigent Defense Fund budget for revenue and expenditure line items asked for by Selleck. A budget is needed for the public defender’s office to manage its funds. The amount of $605,672 comes from the state and funds from local sources that have been budgeted.
*a request from Barry County Undersheriff Matt Houchlei to buy a 2019 Tahoe for $33,546 for the sheriff’s office. It will replace a 2013 Chevy Tahoe totaled in a collision with a deer last December. The county insurance carrier, Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority, will pay the county $12,000 which will go into the vehicle fund, making the total cost for the new vehicle $21,546. The insurance company is selling the car for salvage for $1,575.
*the revised bylaws of the county Community Corrections Advisory Board. The changes made by the advisory board must be approved by the county commission. Tammy Price, administrator of the Office of Community Corrections, said changes include abolishing the secretary/treasurer position, electing the chair and vice chair at the first meeting of the year instead of July and language clarifications.
*re-appointing Cindy Vujea for a three-year term on the Parks & Recreation Board representing the county Economic Development Alliance.
The recommendations will be considered by the commissioners at the next board meeting on Feb. 12.
