HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-11-09-minutes-quarterly-update-with-public-defense-director11/09/2026 MINUTES 1
COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON CONFERENCE ROOM SPECIAL MEETING
MONDAY 10:00 AM NOVEMBER 09, 2026
Board members present: Chairman, Brett Wachsmith; Vice-Chairman Laura
Osiadacz; and Commissioner Jeff Leichleiter.
Others: Jodi Larsen, Office Administrator; Eileen Murphy, Director
of Public Defense.
CITIZEN COMMENTS: NONE SPECIAL MEETING: PUBLIC DEFENSE DIRECTOR UPDATE COMMISSIONERS
At 10:00 A.M. Chairman Wachsmith opened a Special Meeting with the
Director of Public Defense, Eileen Murphy. The Public Defense team
currently consists of 6 Public Defense Attorneys and 3 legal
assistants.
The defense is responsible for managing cases in the County as well
as all City municipalities. Ms. Murphy reviewed the caseloads that
she and her team are currently working on as well as the
projection for the remainder of the year.
Ms. Murphy explained that the Public Defense team is required to
attend all arraignments and first appearances in addition to the
regularly scheduled court sessions. Due to this their team is in
court 5 days a week between Upper District, Lower District, and
Superior Courts.
Ms. Murphy is mindful of the future case law reductions and is
working to obtain grants and other sources of funding to ensure
they have enough attorneys to meet this obligation. Currently, the
Office of Public Defense is on track to receive $250,000 in grants
and is continually searching for funding opportunities. Ms. Murphy
will be working with the individual municipalities on Public
Defense contracts. In the next year she would like to add a part-
time investigator and another full-time Defense Attorney.
DISCUSSION/DECISION:
There was a discussion regarding the frequency of future meetings
with the Office of Public Defense. The Board elected to continue
with the quarterly meetings. The next meeting is scheduled for
February 1, 2027.
11/09/2026 MINUTES 1
OTHER BUSINESS - NONE
The meeting concluded at 11:02 A.M.
KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Jodi Larsen Brett Wachsmith, Chairman