Medical Lake Council approves alternate public defender contract

By CARA LORELLO

Staff Reporter

Medical Lake City Council approved authorization of an alternate public defender contract that will appoint attorneys to represent indigent defendants in cases of conflict.

The motion, approved on March 18, falls under a recently added provision of Medical Lake Municipal Court for public defender services for indigent defendants.

In February, the city was awarded a $5,000 grant from the Washington State Office of Public Defense (WSOPD) to help fund services for indigent defendants, part of a statewide movement to help smaller courts provide defense services for d...