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 […]
public defender
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 […]
Posted inNews
Attorney to County: If New Public Defender is Qualified, Prove it or Face Lawsuit
A local attorney is threatening legal action if the county of Humboldt doesn’t remove newly hired Public Defender David Marcus from his post or prove that he’s qualified to hold it. After a controversial hiring process, the Board of Supervisors appointed Marcus to the post Feb. 7 and his first day on the job was […]
Posted inLetters + Opinion
Out of Order
Let’s get one thing out of the way: I hope David Marcus succeeds. I want him to take the helm of what is already a strong office and make it better, ensuring that Humboldt County’s indigent get the constitutional protections they — and every member of our society — deserve. I hope he finds new […]
Posted inNews
Defense Attorneys Urge Supes to Scrap Public Defender Hire, Start Over
It’s very hard to say exactly what recently hired Public Defender David Marcus has been doing for the last five years since his controversial tenure leading Lassen County’s defense services for the indigent came to a close. The resume Marcus submitted to the county indicates that, since leaving Lassen County in 2012, he has worked […]