County hires two public defenders

BONNERS FERRY — Boundary County commissioners, have contracted Linda J. Payne and Amanda E. Findlay to be public defenders for the Boundary.

Payne has over 18 years of experience as an attorney and has experience as a public defender for Kootenai and Boundary County.

According to a 2005 article in Spokesman-Review, Payne, who was upset about a clerical pay error, responded by “giving the county commission a greeting card along with a jar of Vaseline and tube of red lipstick has resigned.”

“The next time you choose to give us something please lubricate and/or kiss first,” Payne wrote in the Hallmark card June 9, 2005.

The dispute was over a discrepancy of $5,000, but an adjustment was made because the compensation was more than what was approved by commissioners.

Findlay was approved by The Idaho State Bar on October 6, 2016, and has worked for Lake City Law Group.

According to Commissioner Chairman Dan Dinning, the hiring process was extensive; the process includes judges’ recommendations, checking references, an interview with commissioners and verifying licenses.

There was an initial vacancy, and another attorney did not plan to renew the contract, so the county needed to fill two vacancies.

The need for additional public defenders was needed because the county historically has three at all times.

The vacancy put pressure on local attorneys to answer the call and help until the vacancies were filled.

“Thanks to the local attorney’s for stepping up,” Dinning said.

The public defender position is paid at a rate of $85 an hour at 500 hours a year; public defenders will be assigned cases on a rotating basis every month.

A public defender will be responsible for a month and rotate with the other public defenders every month unless there are extenuating circumstances that require a public defender to help out during the off month.