WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS RENEW CAPITAL CASE INSURANCE POLICY
The Washington County Commissioners renewed what is essentially an insurance policy in case the county has to try a capital murder case.
The Commissioners renewed its interlocal agreement with Lubbock County, for its participation in the Regional Public Defender for Capital Case at today’s (Tuesday’s) meeting. Washington County Judge John Brieden told the Court that this would be a small price to pay if the county ever needed to try a capital case.
The county pays $9350 a year to participate in the program. Capital murder cases are the most expensive cases to try. Judge Brieden noted some neighboring counties have had several and each case cost at least one million dollars. Austin County has had to try several cases in the past four years.
Under this program the public defender provides court appointed counsel for indigent defendants charged with capital murder.
What does Washington County spend currently on all public defender cases in a year?
Try to find out what the state spends on this, the only answer I got was ”its a lot”.