Budget cuts cause Lake County office to cut 7 jobs

CROWN POINT, Ind. – Lake County’s chief public defender said his office may have to turn down new cases after eliminating seven jobs because of to budget cuts.

The cuts came after the county council ordered each county department to reduce payroll by 10 percent to help cover a projected $17 million deficit.

The public defender’s office lost three trial attorneys, an appellate lawyer, an investigator and two secretaries. The cuts were announced last week. They leave the office with 17 trial attorneys, five appellate public defenders and 15 contract attorneys. Five contract attorney positions were eliminated.

The office handles about 70 percent of the 1,900 criminal cases filed in the northwest Indiana county each year.