December, 2016 — Humboldt County Public Defender Kevin Robinson retires. Feb. 8, 2017 — The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors announces the hire of David Marcus as Humboldt’s next public defender. Feb. 14, 2017 — Several members of the local defense bar address the Board of Supervisors, urging it to scrap Marcus’ hire and begin […]
David Marcus
Posted inNews
‘Nothing in Writing’
Local attorney Patrik Griego refiled his lawsuit last week, alleging that Humboldt County Public Defender David Marcus fails to meet minimum state qualifications for his post. And this time, Griego is using Marcus’ own words against him in arguing that he is unqualified to represent the county’s indigent defendants as the chief public defender. Last […]
Posted inNews
Judge Gives Attorney 30 Days to Refile Public Defender Lawsuit
A judge today dismissed a lawsuit alleging the county’s public defender did not meet minimum qualifications required for the post, but gave local attorney Patrik Griego 30 days to refile, saying he should have more information about his contention after questioning David Marcus under oath during an upcoming deposition. The lawsuit seeking to block Marcus’ […]
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 […]
Posted inNews
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 […]
Posted inNews
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 […]
Posted inNews
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 […]
Posted inNews
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 […]
Posted inNews
Griego Files Suit Challenging Public Defender Hire
Local attorney Patrik Griego followed through this morning on his threat to file a petition with the Humboldt County Superior Court asking a judge to step in and block the county’s recent hire of David Marcus as its next public defender. The petition for a writ of mandate, filed as a public interest lawsuit, alleges […]
Posted inNews
Supes Support Marcus, Face Lawsuit by Week’s End
The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors is standing by its newly hired public defender, even if it’s a stance that will soon land it in court. The board met in closed session this morning to discuss a local lawyer’s threat that he would ask a Humboldt County Superior Court judge to step in and block […]
Posted inNews
Supes to Discuss Threatened Public Defender Lawsuit Tuesday
The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors will convene in closed session Tuesday to discuss its newly hired public defender, whether he is qualified to hold his post and whether it should brave the threat of a lawsuit in order to keep him. As we reported Wednesday, local attorney Patrik Griego sent the county a letter […]