So much has transpired since Humboldt County passed its groundbreaking Commercial Medical Marijuana Land Use Ordinance — passage of state medical cannabis regulations, statewide recreational legalization and the creation of a new regulatory framework for both industries — that it can be easy to forget it happened just two years ago. “It’s like from 1932 […]
board of supervisors
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Supes to Consider Law Enforcement Raises, Cannabis Consultant Contracts Tomorrow
UPDATE: In a 3-0 vote, with Supervisors Virginia Bass and Rex Bohn absent, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors passed both agenda items. PREVIOUSLY The Humboldt County supervisors are set to consider approving raises tomorrow for the county’s sheriff’s deputies, district attorney investigators and probation officers that would bump their pay 5 percent over the […]
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Supes to Consider Public Defender’s $25K Severance Agreement
When the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors convenes tomorrow, it will discuss whether to approve a severance agreement for former Public Defender David Marcus that has already been executed and can’t legally be ratified. The severance agreement, which followed Marcus’ Nov. 22 resignation after nine embattled months on the job and pays him about $25,000, […]
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Griego to Dismiss Public Defender Suit
Local attorney Patrik Griego announced this morning that he will be dismissing the lawsuit he brought challenging David Marcus’ appointment as Humboldt County public defender in light of Marcus’ resignation. In the short release (copied below), Griego notes that his lawsuit was challenging whether Marcus met minimum state qualifications for the job when the Humboldt […]
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David Marcus’ Resignation Ends Tumultuous Tenure
Supervisor Virginia Bass confirmed that David Marcus has stepped down from the county’s public defender post after a tumultuous nine months in office. “He sent a letter on Wednesday evening informing us of his resignation,” Bass said Friday. Marcus’ sudden departure came after the Board of Supervisors held a special closed session meeting — called […]
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Hearing Set in Public Defender Case Amid Settlement Offer, Allegations of Delay Tactics
The Humboldt County Superior Court has set a hearing next month to determine whether embattled Public Defender David Marcus meets the minimum state qualifications to hold his job. But Patrik Griego, the attorney who brought the lawsuit challenging Marcus’ hire, is worried the county is engaging in a pattern of “gamesmanship” intended to delay the […]
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UPDATED: No Report Out of Closed Door Evaluation of Public Defender
UPDATE: The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors announced no final actions when reconvening out of closed session today. PREVIOUSLY (Oct. 8): The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors will meet in closed session Tuesday to review the job performance of embattled Public Defender David Marcus. The closed-session review comes eight months into Marcus’ tenure and about […]
Posted inLetters + Opinion
Let’s Talk About Rex
Humboldt County First District Supervisor Rex Bohn just really doesn’t seem to get it. Now, I qualify that claim since we haven’t had a chance to have a good, old fashioned on-the-record interview with Bohn because, as a matter of personal policy, he doesn’t talk to the Journal. So Bohn has declined our requests to […]
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Employee Calls Police After Alleged Dispute with Public Defender
One of Humboldt County Public Defender David Marcus’ employees filed a report with the Eureka Police Department yesterday alleging that he verbally assaulted her in the office after learning that office employees had sent a letter to the Board of Supervisors alleging he is unfit for the position. EPD Capt. Brian Stephens said officer Abraham […]
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Supes Evaluate Public Defender as His Office Sends Another Blistering Letter
UPDATE: The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors issued a press release after emerging from closed session today, reaffirming its support for embattled Public Defender David Marcus. “During this meeting, Mr. Marcus reaffirmed his commitment to carrying out the mission of the Public Defender’s Office, which is to provide aggressive, competent and ethical representation to indigent […]
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Deputy Public Defenders Tell Supes New Boss is ‘Unqualified’
In an unprecedented move, all nine Humboldt County deputy public defenders sent a letter to the Board of Supervisors on Friday urging it to reconsider the recent hiring of their boss, Public Defender David Marcus. “We, the undersigned, write this letter to express our belief that David Marcus is not qualified for the position of […]
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Alleging Public Defender is Already Failing Clients, Attorney Asks to Fast Track Lawsuit
Eureka attorney Patrik Griego is asking a judge to expedite the process of determining whether newly hired Humboldt County Public Defender David Marcus meets minimum state qualifications to hold the post. Griego, who filed a lawsuit earlier this month challenging the county’s controversial hiring of Marcus, is asking a Humboldt County Superior Court judge to […]