County commissioners move forward with plan to hire full-time public defender

Plans are moving forward to hire a full-time public defender in Union County.

The matter was on the agenda at last week’s regular meeting of the Union County Board of Commissioners. The meeting was Friday morning at the Union County Courthouse in Jonesboro.

The county board approved a resolution at Friday morning’s meeting to establish the office of public defender.

Approval of the resolution was a formality which was needed as part of the process to move forward with having one person serving as the county’s public defender.

The public defender provides legal assistance to those who cannot afford representation in court cases.

The county has been utilizing the services of several public defenders. The move to having a single person in the post is seen as a way to streamline services and to save on costs.

Union County State’s Attorney Daniel Klingemann voiced support for the move at Friday’s meeting.

“I think it’s a good thing for the county,” Klingemann said. 

The county commissioners unanimously approved the resolution to establish the office of public defender.

Local attorney Tyler Tripp is expected to be named to the post of public defender, effective on Feb. 3. Tripp has been serving as one of the county’s public defenders.

Tripp is running for the office of Union County state’s attorney in 2020. His campaign will continue.