Shiver to step down as lead public defender

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Shiver to step down as lead public defender

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Friday, June 29. 2012

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Joel Shiver, head of the Northern Judicial Circuit’s Public Defender’s Office, told county commissioners Friday that he is leaving his post as of June 30 due to health reasons.

In an emotional farewell, Shiver placed a laptop on the BOC meeting table and played a lengthy, recorded presentation that he narrated, in which he explained the role of the public defenders’ office and outlined the burdens his employees face amid a substantial and growing criminal caseload.

The public defenders’ office represents criminal defendants who can’t afford to hire an attorney. Shiver said there are 12 employees on his staff, including seven lawyers, one paralegal, two investigators and three support staff members.

The public defender said Madison County has seen a dramatic increase in its caseload in recent years, adding that he doesn’t feel prosecutors are making prudent decisions on which cases to pursue.

“I just want to present what’s going on,” said Shiver. “It costs a lot of money to have a lot of bad cases brought in to the county.”

County commissioners agreed — by a 4-1 vote, with Mike Youngblood providing the lone “No” — to increase the public defenders’ budget by $4,000 over the next year. Youngblood said he wanted to postpone action until later in the month.

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#1 Patriot on 07/09/12 at 06:07 PM [Reply]

Its a sad day in our county and America . This man had to leave because he couldn't deal with the crap anymore and is probably a really good person ask to do and witness things he knew deep down in his heart are wrong I bet. Whats the biggest part of his case load . Drug offenses? Prohibition once again creates more violence and destruction of lives than the actual drugs and at a cost to us way more than we can afford anymore.Anybody remember Al Capone ? Now we have real drug lords and kingpins killing on our boarders for a piece of the action . Its the money created by making it illegal and a black market. Make something Illegal and the price goes up to get it because of the risk and then the violence follows. Something I cant figure out is why people in this country haven't shot back more . Anybody ever think about that. Guns are plentiful any druggie could get one. So if drugs are what make people so violent why aren't their more killings here and Police officers shot when trying to arrest those people? Could it be because they aren't bad people anymore than the ones that wanted a drink or sold bootleg alcohol in the day. Is it because they just go after the low hanging fruit . If they wanted it stopped they couldn't do it and I don't believe they want to. Sure cant lock everybody up I know that much . Sooner or later people or going to have to come to their senses. How many lives will be ruined before they do ? How much violence will have to occur before people come to their senses?

#1.1 Ben had on 07/09/12 at 06:37 PM [Reply]

We'll have to wait until the "Greatest Generation" and the one after that has passed on before we can be sensible enough to legalize drugs. They are brainwashed beyond repair.
Things could be so much better.

#1.1.1 Ms.K on 07/10/12 at 11:57 AM [Reply]

I kinda thought you were of the Boomer generation all this time. Yes, the Greatest Generation is nearly gone now, but you would think the original heralders of the drug culture would be leading this charge now. If not them, then which generation are you referring to? Just curious.

#1.2 Virginia Moss on 07/10/12 at 12:36 AM [Reply]

"Something I cant figure out is why people in this country haven't shot back more."

That's my query as well. The lessons of Prohibition are clear. Who in government profits from this besides the private jails? What's behind all this? The whole thing is insane and has been for a very long time. Even morality finally gave up in 1934 when Prohibition was repealed. As it is, alcohol and tobacco are the most damaging of all, not only to the user but to innocent citizens and the cost of health care. We have made some progress toward viewing drug abuse as a health care issue instead of a criminal one with recent changes in court procedures, but that doesn't stop the real, violent crimes.

One problem in decriminalising or legalizing drugs is that the United States has agreements with about a hundred other countries to keep the drugs illegal. This was for two reasons. Some of those countries for moral reasons wanted a united front against the drug trade, but others wanted to continue high prices for their raw material for heroin, pot and cocaine. The economies of those countries are heavily dependent on illegal drugs, like Afghanistan, India, Mexico and several countries in South America.

We should at least start with marijuana. I don't drink, smoke, gamble or do drugs, but I am tired of the enormous, useless cost out of my pocket going to this war on drugs! Furthermore, the attendant crime is a cancer on society that has metastasized throughout our communities. It puts me, my family and friends at risk of theft, muggings, auto accidents and worse. It's time to make dramatic changes now.

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