Lake Council delays vote on public defenders' insurance

CROWN POINT | Lake County Council members will wait at least a month before a contentious vote on whether to kick more than 50 lawyers off a publicly financed health insurance program.

County Councilman Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell, said during a council workshop meeting Thursday that he wants more time for debate among county officials before scheduling a final vote. Niemeyer's proposed ordinance would remove public defenders from the fiscally troubled county government health insurance plan.

As written, the ordinance would eliminate health insurance for more than 30 lawyers working for the Lake Juvenile Court and the Superior Court County Division by 2013.

It may be expanded to eliminate another 24 public defenders in Lake Criminal Court — where proceedings for the most serious property, drug and violent crime offenses are heard.

Superior Court Judge Julie Cantrell said she is afraid her team of public defenders would leave if denied insurance and be replaced with less experienced lawyers.

She said lawyers with less experience could generate more jury trials, more appeals and longer jail stays — all at greater public expense than any savings realized in insurance costs.

Councilman Mike Repay, D-Hammond, said public defenders are a bargain, resolving minor criminal crimes at a cost of $120 per case. Cantrell said private lawyers charge $1,500 to $5,000 to represent those charged with drunken driving.

Councilman Dan Dernulc, R-Highland, said there has to be a change.

"We also have to look to the well-being of our other employees," Dernulc said "We can't leave things the way they are."